Stewart will stay on ‘Daily Show’

Comedy Central has locked up its biggest star, Jon Stewart, to continue as host of the comic newscast “The Daily Show” through next year’s presidential election.

Stewart and Comedy Central have extended a contract that was to expire this year, Bill Hilary, the network’s general manager, said Thursday. Terms were not disclosed.

Hilary said the deal was actually reached last fall, but news only slipped out this week in connection with AOL Time Warner’s sale of its stake in the cable network to Viacom. The two media giants had shared ownership of Comedy Central.