SiriusXM Canada's Top Comic competition returns for its sixth year

-     Aspiring comedians across Canada compete for the title of SiriusXM's Top Comic and $15,000 grand prize

-     Registration opens on Monday, May 4, 2015

TORONTO, May 4, 2015 /CNW/ - SiriusXM Canada (TSX: XSR), the country's leading audio entertainment company, today announced the return of the hilarious and highly successful SiriusXM's Top Comic competition. This will be the sixth year the contest will scour Canada in search of the crème de la crème of comedic talent. Up for grabs is a spot in the Top Comic Finale at JFL42, presented by Air Canada in association with SiriusXM in Toronto, where the winner will take home a grand prize of $15,000 and the title of SiriusXM's Top Comic.

As of today, Canadian comics can register at www.siriusxm.ca/topcomic where they will be able to submit a video of themselves performing their best material. Once the best submissions from each city are selected, comedians will go mic-to-mic across seven cities, auditioning before a live audience and a panel of SiriusXM judges.

The 2015 audition tour will stop in the following cities:

• Ottawa, ON – June 7, Absolute Comedy
• Montreal, QC – June 8, The Comedy Nest
• Halifax, NS – June 9, Yuk Yuk's
• Winnipeg, MB – June 14, Rumor's Comedy Club
• Calgary, AB – June 15, Comedy Monday Night (Broken City)
• Vancouver, BC – June 17, The Comedy Mix
• Toronto, ON – June 22, The AltDot Comedy Lounge (The Rivoli)
• Toronto, ON – June 23, Yuk Yuk's

Once the auditions are complete, each set will be uploaded to the SiriusXM Top Comic website for Canadians to cast their vote for the comic of their choice. Comedians with the most votes from each audition night will then have a chance to compete in the Top Comic Finale in Toronto as part of the Just For Laughs' JFL 42 Festival. Auditions from the tour will be recorded for broadcast and can be heard on SiriusXM Canada's uncensored comedy channel, Canada Laughs (channel 168).

"We are always blown away by all of the talented comedians who come out to compete, and we are excited to see what this year's contestants will bring to the stage," said Ben Miner, Canadian comic and host of SiriusXM's Canada Laughs. "We not only get incredible new content for our channel through this competition, but we are able to give comics a North American platform and exposure to millions of listeners."

Top Comic is part of SiriusXM Canada's ongoing initiatives to provide exposure to Canadian talent. Last year, Montreal's Faisal Butt took home the title of Sirius XM's Top Comic and all Finalists went on to open for Russell Peters on the Canadian leg of his Almost Famous World Tour. Previous winners of SiriusXM Canada's Top Comic contest include Pete Zedlacher, Eric Andrews, Matt O'Brien and Brian Stollery.

Canada Laughs (channel 168) features uncensored Canadian comedy 24/7 including stand-up, sketch, musical comedy and more, putting the spotlight on the rich pool of extraordinary talent from Canada. Canada Laughs is available to all Sirius and XM subscribers in Canada and across the U.S. and joins SiriusXM's hilarious comedy lineup, including Comedy Central Radio, Raw Dog Comedy Hits, The Foxxhole, Jeff and Larry's Comedy Roundup, Laugh USA and more.

Those satellite radio subscribers who add SiriusXM Internet Radio access to their subscription can also listen to Canada Laughs on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and online. 

To learn more visit www.siriusxm.ca/topcomic

About SiriusXM Canada

Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. (TSX: XSR) operates as SiriusXM Canada. SiriusXM Canada, with almost 2.6 million subscribers, is the country's leading audio entertainment company and broadcasts more than 120 satellite radio channels featuring premier sports, news, talk, entertainment and commercial-free music. SiriusXM Canada offers an array of content from the most recognized news, entertainment and major sports brands including the NHL, NFL, NBA, NASCAR, CNN, CBC, FOX, BBC, Howard Stern, Disney, Comedy Central and more.

SiriusXM programming is available on a variety of devices including pre-installed and after-market radios in cars, trucks and boats, smartphones and mobile devices, and consumer electronics products for homes and offices. SiriusXM programming is also available online at www.siriusxm.ca and on Apple and Android-powered mobile devices.

SiriusXM Canada has partnerships with every major automaker and its radio products are available at more than 2,500 retail locations nationwide. To find out more about SiriusXM Canada (TSX: XSR), visit our website at www.siriusxm.ca.

SiriusXM Canada has been designated one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies six years in a row and 2013 and 2014 rankings in PROFIT 500's list of Canada's Fastest Growing Companies.

Join SiriusXM Canada on Facebook at facebook.com/siriusxmcanada, on Twitter at twitter.com/siriusxmcanada and on Youtube at youtube.com/siriusxmcanada.

SOURCE Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc.

SiriusXM Canada contact: Mike Calnek, Director, Publicity, Promotion and Sponsorship, 416-513-7459, [email protected]; Jennifer Rashwan, Touchwood PR, 416-301-4866, [email protected]