Canadian studio New Metric Media is launching a new YouTube comedy channel called shozerTV. The channel, which debuts with 20 titles from Lionsgate, will offer a range of comedy, including original and acquired scripted and unscripted series, podcasts, stand-up specials and sketches to Canada and the rest of the world.
The launch of a channel comes at a time when traditional studios and broadcasters have identified comedy as a key opportunity for growth on digital first platforms. Channel 4 UK recently launched a comedy channel and BBC Studios is already active in this arena. Banijay has also been growing its footprint in the comedy space and has started working with comedians like Jimmy Carr on their own individual channels.
New Metric said shozerTV aims to fill a gap in the market by creating a hub for unpretentious, sharp comedy that appeals to 18-40 year olds around the globe. Along with existing original and third-party content curated for the platform, shozerTV will “include digital-first originals from up-and-coming creators”. The company said that this takes New Metric back to its YouTube roots – with its sitcom Letterkenny having originated as a digital first series called LetterkennyProblems.
“Comedy is one of Canada’s greatest exports and we are excited to give it a centralised home for the world to enjoy on shozerTV,” said New Metric CEO & founder Mark Montefiore. “From scripted television and live touring to standup and podcasts, shozerTV allows New Metric to elevate Canadian talent beyond our borders as we continue to build one of the best comedy entertainment studios in the world.”
Along with featuring New Metric series What Would Sal Do? and Bria Mack Gets A Life, Lionsgate titles on shozerTV will include Running Wilde and Zack And Miri Make A Porno. “We’re excited to support shozerTV with a great lineup of fan-favourite comedies,” said Susan Hummel, EVP & managing director of Canada distribution and content venture. “This collaboration with New Metric Media reflects our commitment to showcasing our comedy library on digital platforms.”
Video podcasts will make up a key pillar of shozerTV, including the first three original New Metric titles heading into production in 2026: Legit Stupid, Dicey History and a new podcast from Bria Mack Gets A Life creator Sasha Leigh Henry and producer Tania Thompson. In terms of stand-up comedy specials, shozerTV has licensed titles from Toronto-based producers Comedy Bar and Macaw Studios.
New Metric is actively in the hunt to acquire new original, YouTube and connected-TV-first, scripted and unscripted programming for the shozerTV channel from comedy creators, along with existing comedic content from third parties. “The launch of shozerTV is the next step in New Metric’s evolution of delivering direct-to-consumer (DTC) products to the market,” said the company’s COO Jeff Hersh, who led Bell Media’s DTC services, including streamer Crave, before joining New Metric. “This launch will leverage the experience, data and audience that we’ve built through our existing DTC businesses across e-commerce, video games and live touring.”
Image is Letterkenny – courtesy of Crave
