South Park creators blast merger that delays new season

In the United States, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of the animated television series South Park, have expressed their frustration over a delay in the show's Season 27 premiere, which is now rescheduled to July 23, 2025, after initially being set for July 9, 2025. The delay is linked to a merger between Paramount Global, the parent company of Comedy Central, and Skydance Media, which is slated to close by July 6, 2025. This merger has coincided with ongoing negotiations regarding the streaming rights for South Park, which have seen the show's previous agreement with HBO Max lapse just a week before the premiere date. The dynamics surrounding the show's streaming logistics have left the creators dissatisfied, as they believe that the merger processes have interfered with their ability to negotiate favorable terms with other platforms like Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery. Additionally, Parker and Stone have accused incoming Paramount president Jeff Shell of unlawfully impacting those negotiations. Despite the challenges, they have been actively working on new episodes and have voiced hope that fans will get to see the latest work soon. The creators have articulated their positions as a response to growing frustrations from a fan base that has already waited over two years since the last season aired in March 2023. Their sentiments were shared via social media, where they characterized the merger as a major disorganization, jeopardizing the production and availability of the show. The South Park team is anticipating that the new season will be available on Paramount+, although the specific streaming details remain uncertain, especially as the rights are currently being explored with various undisclosed companies. The delay has sparked significant discussion among fans and industry observers about how corporate mergers can affect creative projects and the consequences of negotiating streaming rights in an evolving media landscape. Parker and Stone, having a long history with Comedy Central since South Park debuted in 1997, continue to advocate for the show's integrity and the interests of its audience amidst the administrative turmoil of the merger.