Amuz Distribution has acquired a near-1,000 title comedy library from the Just For Laughs comedy festival as part of a bankruptcy process. The parent company of Quebec City-based ComediHa!, Amuz Distribution, made the purchase after Groupe Juste Pour Rire Inc., the parent company of Just For Laughs, agreed to sell select assets during bankruptcy protection proceedings.
Carlos Pacheco has been hired as the director of monetization and OTT to distribute the comedy programming under the Juste pour rire and Just For Laughs, the Gags brands. Alex Avon, the chief revenue officer of Amuz, praised Pacheco’s experience in the global marketplace and OTT space, stating that it will help the company reach its next level.
In 2018, ICM Partners and Howie Mandel joined a consortium to acquire the Just For Laughs comedy group by purchasing the controlling stake from founder Gilbert Rozon. CAA is said to still retain a small stake in Just For Laughs after acquiring ICM in 2022, with Mandel no longer part of the ownership consortium.
The Montreal-based comedy group, which started in the 1980s as an annual festival for discovering new talent, has seen changes in the industry with the rise of the internet and social media as platforms for comedians to promote themselves. Despite these changes, the Just For Laughs comedy festival remains a staple in the comedy world.
