• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, May 16, 2013

For the first time since its tribute to Johnny Carson 20 years ago, Comedy Central will go dark Sunday -- although not quiet. The network will simulcast its new SiriusXM channel on-air at midnight.

Virgin Mobile and Monster DNA, the headphone marketer, will sponsor the initial minute of “Comedy Central Radio on Comedy Central.”

The first and only other time the network went dark was in 1992 during Johnny Carson’s final “Tonight Show” appearance. Sister network TVLand went dark during the 1998 “Seinfeld” finale as a tip of the hat.

The Comedy Central radio station will include stand-up comedy from the network’s archives, including its roasts, as well as original content and coverage from network events.

Comedy Central has looked for all kinds of ways to expand beyond its on-air base from tours to book publishing to even a stake in the “Book of Mormon.”

Recently, it said it would offer a trio of free live shows in New York this summer, the first time since 2007.

SiriusXM offers a multitude of comedy channels, including ones linked with George Carlin and the Upright Citizens Brigade.