BYUtv's Studio C Sketch Comedy Series' Popularity Explodes Online, Breaking Network Records; Launches New Season on Oct. 6

Appealing to family and Millennial audiences, BYUtv's original sketch comedy show surpasses network expectations with more than 60 million YouTube views

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BYUtv

Sep 30, 2014, 11:07 ET

PROVO, Utah, Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the exponential audience growth of its original irreverent-yet-family-appropriate sketch comedy hit Studio C, BYUtv announces the premier of Season Five, airing on Monday, Oct. 6 at 8pm MT/10pm ET. Since its initial October 2012 launch, the show has established a continually expanding and loyal fan base beyond its traditional television viewership to an explosive online audience, particularly among teens and Millennials, who view sketches online at BYUtv.org and on the network's YouTube channel. The audience has propelled Studio C's growth by sharing favorite episodes and sketches across a variety of social media platforms, growing its online presence from 500,000 YouTube views following the premier of Season One to more than 60 million views to date.

"Once it launched, Studio C's social media-savvy fans helped the show gain a national following online and through various digital platforms," said Derek Marquis, executive producer of Studio C and managing director of BYUtv. "Fans are sharing, liking and reposting their favorite sketches, resulting in tens of millions of views. We recognized its potential on television and decided to take the risk of investing considerable network resources to produce Studio C, but when it exploded online and so quickly catapulted to success, we were amazed. We've managed to penetrate and gain a loyal following with a highly discerning national audience who gravitate toward comedians like Brian Regan and Jim Gaffigan and comedy that is smart, unexpected and even edgy without crossing the line of being inappropriate. The show has continued to surpass our expectations, and BYUtv is delighted to continue the Studio C adventure with this incredible audience."

Combining a mix of live performances and pre-recorded digital shorts (90 per season/180 new sketches per year), Studio C plays off of widely relatable topics and circumstances (quirky relatives, friendship quandaries, video gaming angst, romantic heartbreak, etc.), confronts ethical dilemmas and weighs in on pop culture. Filmed before a live studio audience at BYUtv's state-of-the-art studios in Provo, Utah, Season Five will bring back the entire original Studio C cast with ten new episodes beginning Oct. 6th.

The on-air comedy team behind Studio C — writers/co-stars Whitney Call, Mallory Everton, Jason Gray and Matthew Meese — got their start as students with Brigham Young University's sketch-comedy group Divine Comedy. Following graduation, troupe member Matt Meese teamed up with BYUtv producer and director Jared Shores to create Studio C by bringing the group's comedic skills off campus and onto TV screens.

"With so many entertainment options available to consumers, winning the ongoing attention of a national audience is never a given – especially for a comedy show coming from of all places BYUtv," said Shores. "Yet Studio C's particular brand of humor has clearly resonated with a demographic of people who have the ability to watch anything, any time of day or night – from Netflix to Vine. That they pick us compels us to keep pushing the comedic envelope. We love the challenge of making people laugh, and hold that as our ongoing ultimate goal."

About BYUtv

Owned by Brigham Young University and based in Provo, Utah, BYUtv is a groundbreaking High Definition television network that has created a breadth of original "see the good in the world" programming that fills a void in entertainment the entire family can enjoy together, including sketch comedy, history, music and documentary offerings. The network continues to build steady momentum, drawing new viewers to its shows from every state of the country via cable, satellite and multiple digital media platforms including byutv.org, iOS apps for iPhone and iPad, the BYUtv Roku channel and new apps for Android and Microsoft Xbox 360. The non-commercial station's reach is unprecedented at any university in the world, available in more than 53 million households in every state of the country and offers approximately 1,000 hours of original programming annually, including 500 hours of live HD collegiate sports.

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