The Comedy Channel Web Site and Content Management System

Launch Site

Client Introduction

The Comedy Channel is the only television channel devoted to making Australians laugh - twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Mixing original specials and series with current and classic comedies from Australia and around the world, The Comedy Channel offers an unconventional, uncensored style that ensures unlimited appeal to lovers of good comedy.

Project Overview

In an ongoing relationship with The Comedy Channel, Switch I.T. was contracted to completely redevelop the aesthetics and functionality of the web site to align with the new channel branding strategy for a January 1 launch. Because of the circumstances surrounding the re-launch, Switch I.T. had only 5 days to develop all of the new functionality and implement the new design. After developing an online survey to capture feedback and preferences of the existing customer base, a complete online strategy was developed Switch I.T. that aligned the new direction of the channel with the preferences and suggestions of existing users. This strategy was realised with the development of the following new features:

• SMS Reminders
  Viewers can now be reminded by SMS free of charge when their favourite program is about to start. Users have the option of being reminded 5 minutes, 15 minutes or 1 hour before their favourite program goes to air.
  
  
• 7 Day Guide
  The new 7 day guide provides a comprehensive view of the next weeks programming all on a single page.
  
  
• Streaming Video
  Viewers can now watch streaming Flash MX video promos for all upcoming channel highlights. Highlights and their associated videos can be easily added by channel staff via the Content Management System.
  
  
• What To Watch Area
  User feedback suggested that viewers wanted as much upcoming programming information as possible on the web site. Switch I.T. addressed this by developing an intuitive 'What To Watch' area where channel staff can continually add upcoming channel highlights to the web site. A Channel line-up section was also added detailing every show currently airing on the channel.
  
  
• Rate a Joke
  The Jokes area has now been expanded into a continually growing library. Users can rate each joke on the site in an effort to find the funniest joke. Categories have also been added to allow the archive to be easily browsed.
  
  
• Channel Messageboard
  Preliminary user feedback also highlighted the need to create the facilities where viewers can meet online and discuss anything channel related. The messageboard was a complete success, with over 250 messages posted in the first week.
  
  
• eNewsletter
  In order to provide viewers with more information on upcoming highlights, competitions and giveaways, a fully functional eNewsletter publishing system was also developed allow channel staff to create, manage and track HTML email campaigns. Almost every form on the web site was also modified in an effort to obtain as many subscribers to the eNewsletter as possible.
  
  

What the client said...

"Having managed The Comedy Channel website for over 3 years, I knew that the Switch I.T. website redesign would be professional and painless - much like a good dentist! Our site is colourful, easy to navigate and has proved to be an invaluable resource for our subscribers. The client content management system is a breeze to work with and any requests we have are dealt with quickly and efficiently. I cannot recommend them highly enough."

Simone Reeve
Website Coordinator, The Comedy Channel

Technologies
Client Side	HTML, DHTML, JavaScript
Server Side	C#, XML
Database	SQL Server 2000
Platform/OS	IIS, Windows 2000
Switch I.T. Components
Content Management	SwitchBack CMS
Community	SwitchBoard Messageboard System
Related Projects
Version 1 Website	View Case Study