Comedy Central orders 'Onion' pilot

Comedy Central and satirical newspaper The Onion will team up to produce a half-hour scripted programme.

The network has ordered a pilot for a comedy based on the Onion Sports Network online video series, which takes an acerbic look at sports and sports journalism, says The Hollywood Reporter.

"We are thrilled to be in business with a cultural icon like The Onion to give our audience the sports show they deserve," said Comedy Central programming president Lauren Corrao.

"The short-form content on the OSN web series is outstanding, hilarious and exactly what you'd expect from the gang. We're really excited to take this great idea and turn it into a regular, weekly series."

No airdate has been confirmed for the series, executive produced by Onion Sports Network's Julie Smith and Will Graham.

"The Onion is the biggest, most fearless, most influential news organisation in the free world," said Steve Hannah, CEO of Onion, Inc.

"And we see a collaboration with Comedy Central as the next logical step in the expansion of the Onion Sports Network's hard-hitting coverage."