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Lionsgate and Kevin Hart team up for a comedy-only streaming service

Lionsgate and Kevin Hart team up for a comedy-only streaming service

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Kevin Hart is gearing up to serve comedy all day, every day. Canadian-American entertainment company Lionsgate announced today that it is entering a partnership with Hart's company Hartbeat Digital to launch Laugh Out Loud a video-on-demand service just for comedy content.

Hart will prank people as an undercover Lyft driver

The platform will house a variety of content created by Hart, including an original series where he’ll be playing an undercover driver for Lyft, the app-based ride-hailing service. The VOD service won’t show Hart’s live tours and theatrical performances.

"Lionsgate has always been a great partner of mine, and I'm more than excited to take our business and creative relationship to new levels," Hart said in a statement. "I understand the direction in which the television business is headed, and I see this big new space toward which audiences are starting to gravitate. I believe that launching this venture together now puts us ahead of the pack."

Vine star Logan Paul will star in an original series

Rising comedians and social media stars will also be featured on Laugh Out Loud. One of them is Logan Paul, who will star in a new series. Paul became famous with his hilarious six-second Vines; last year, his Facebook video views in one month accounted for more than two-and-a-half times the record-breaking number of Super bowl viewers.

Laugh Out Loud will be Lionsgate's third online service. Previously, Lionsgate teamed up with San Diego Comic-Con to create a Netflix for nerds, where all the classic sci-fi and fantasy titles, select SDCC panels and other original programming will be available starting May 7th. Last October, the company also released Tribeca Shortlist — the one-stop shop for all high-quality movies handpicked by actors, writers, and directors.

Aside from Laugh Out Loud, Lionsgate and Hart will be working with game developer Fifth Journey to create a mobile game where Hart mentors players who want to become rock star comedians by helping them tour the country, act in movies, host shows, and more.

Can a comedy-only VOD service compete with biggies like Netflix?

Laugh Out Loud will go head-to-head with other digital subscription services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Video, and HBO GO, all of which offer comedy and more. The pricing for the service was not disclosed. Jeff Clanagan, Codeblack CEO and Hart's business partner for 10 years, will be president of the new service as well as Hartbeat Digital.

"The Kevin Hart brand speaks for itself, and his combination of creative brilliance and financial acumen position Laugh Out Loud and his social game to continue expanding his global fan base while introducing his comedic genius to a whole new online audience," Clanagan said in a statement.