MUMBAI: Viacom International Media Networks has announced that Comedy Central has launched its services in Malaysia and the Philippines.

Comedy Central Asia has launched on Astro B.yond IPTV service in Malaysia via the Maxis Home Fibre Internet package, and on SKYcable and Cignal Digital TV in the Philippines.

Next month Cablelink will begin carrying Comedy Central Asia. The channel will also launch on Philippines platforms Cablelink and Viva Communications.

Comedy Central Asia is now in nine markets and on 15 providers across Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Mongolia and Thailand.

VIMN Asia executive VP and MD Indra Suharjono said, "To have Comedy Central Asia?s reach grow to nine markets within the first six months of operation demonstrates the strong demand for comedy and its world-class content is bound to win fans across all of them."

"Our research has shown that seven out of ten people see Comedy as a form of healthy escapism from the stresses of life, so it is no surprise why the channel is our fastest growing brand both globally and in Southeast Asia," he concluded.