Paramount has reportedly reached a five-year deal worth $1.5 billion for the global streaming rights to 'South Park', according to the Los Angeles Times. The agreement, valued at $300 million per year, would bring regular episodes of the long-running animated series to Paramount+ in the US for the first time.
Sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed the deal to Variety, though specifics remain unclear. Paramount did not respond to requests for comment, possibly because the deal is not yet finalised. The pact follows a tense standoff between creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Paramount, with Parker and Stone accusing incoming president Jeff Shell of interfering in their contract negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix.
The new deal arrives ahead of the show's 27th season premiere on Comedy Central on July 23, and days before Parker and Stone are set to appear at San Diego Comic-Con. The season premiere was delayed by two weeks, prompting a statement from the creators on social media: 'This merger is a shit show and it's fucking up 'South Park'.'
Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO Max had previously held exclusive streaming rights, which expired last month. Paramount+ has aired several 'South Park' event specials under a previous $900 million deal struck in 2021, which also funded the main series through 2027. Parker and Stone are now renegotiating an overall deal with Paramount to continue producing new episodes for Comedy Central beyond that date.
The acquisition is a major win for Paramount+ as it competes with Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max, especially with the pending Skydance acquisition. 'South Park', which premiered in 1997, remains a cultural institution known for its satirical take on politics and pop culture.
