Just For Laughs, the long-running Canadian comedy festival under siege on social media this week from Canadian comedians, retreated Wednesday evening, announcing that the satellite radio station it has started to run will now “showcase 100 per cent Canadian content” produced by Canadian artists who are independent of JFL.

Standup comics were up in arms over the weekend and carried that anger through a packed town-hall meeting Tuesday night in Toronto after Canada Laughs — a Sirius XM station that played entirely Canadian comedy — suddenly began airing archival material taped at previous Just for Laughs festivals, including a lot of American, British and Irish performers.

The Canadians said royalties from the channel were a vital source of financial support for homegrown comics, but the founder of the Canadian Association of Standup Comedians sounded reassured by JFL’s Wednesday statement.

“I’m pretty excited,” said comedian Sandra Battaglini, whose group organized the raucous Tuesday meeting at Comedy Bar.

According to Battaglini, JFL said “they want to sit down with us and continue the dialogue.”

The original change was announced on Facebook by veteran comedian Howie Mandel, now a part owner of JFL.

Wednesday, Just For Laughs president Bruce Hills stated in the news release that “We’ve listened carefully to the concerns of Canadian artists and regret the stress we have caused the comedy community. We are invested in the growth of Canada’s comedy industry and are working to include even more Canadian talent in all our initiatives.”

The rebranded channel — 168 on Sirius XM — will be called Just For Laughs Canada and JFL says the royalty system will be unaffected.

Read more:

Comedians meet to plot action over Just For Laughs radio takeover

‘Slap in the face’: Canadian comedians slam Sirius XM and Just for Laughs over format change, lost royalties

Canadian comedians say livelihoods at risk as Just For Laughs takes over radio channel

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Garnet Fraser is a deputy entertainment editor and a contributor to the Star's Entertainment section. He is based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @garnetfraser

Read more about: