Trevor Noah, the new host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” said the program will step up efforts to reach viewers on Snapchat and other online platforms when he takes over this week, according to CableOne.
“We’re trying to find a way to get into those spaces in an authentic way and not just trying to chop up the “Daily Show,” Noah said at a press event Friday in New York. “We acknowledge that Snapchat is a thing, and so we will treat it accordingly and we’ll do that for every source that we feel merits that.”
Noah’s September 28 debut will be simulcast across all of parent company Viacom Inc.’s networks, which include MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon.
The 31-year-old South African comedian will have a wide range of guests in his first week, including individuals with cultural and political figures, like the test evening’s guest, the CNN host Fareed Zakaria.
Even the familiar opening theme, composed by the rock musician Bob Mould, was caught around for the time being.
The way Americans consume news is undergoing a dramatic shift to online outlets. Advertisers are moving their spending time from TV to the Web and mobile devices to reach younger, more tech-smart viewers.
The explosion of online outlets has forced “The Daily Show” to not only find new ways to reach audiences, but also expand where its writers get their material.
Noah recognized the significant amount of work that lay ahead for him. He doesn’t have plans to 'target' any politicians yet, but said that Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump would be welcome on the show.
Jon Stewart was the host of The Daily Show from 1999 to 2015, he hosted his final show in August, capping a 17-year run in which he became a go to source for younger viewers for his sharp and humorous take on current events.
