South Park creators ink $1.5 billion deal with Paramount for streaming rights
- Trey Parker and Matt Stone reached a deal with Paramount for South Park's streaming rights.
- The agreement includes $1.5 billion for five years, producing 10 new episodes each year.
- Fans will see new episodes starting on July 23, after a delayed premiere.
In a landmark agreement, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of the animated series South Park, have reached a deal worth $1.5 billion with Paramount Global for the global streaming rights to their show. This significant contract will ensure that South Park is available on Paramount+, marking the first time the series can be streamed in the U.S. on this platform. Following the expiration of the show's previous streaming contract with HBO Max, which had been valued at $500 million, the acquisition of the streaming rights comes as Paramount has shown a strong desire to bolster its content offerings on its service, aiming to attract a larger audience. The new agreement, negotiated by Parker and Stone’s production company, includes the commitment to create ten new episodes of South Park each year, emphasizing the long-term operational relationship with Paramount beyond the current deal, expected to run for five years. This development aligns with Paramount's ambition to enhance its streaming portfolio and maintain the relevance of South Park, which has aired on Comedy Central since 1997. Additionally, the agreement will restore access to the series in several international markets from which it had been removed. The negotiations for this contract notably caused delays in the premiere of the show's latest season, which was pushed from July 9 to July 23 due to issues stemming from a pending merger between Paramount and Skydance. As the creators expressed frustration over the delay, they reassured fans that new content was in production. With the show being particularly responsive to current events, fans are anticipating explorations of topical themes in the upcoming episodes. Overall, this deal not only reflects the commitment of Parker and Stone to continue their iconic brand but also underlines the growing competition in the streaming landscape as companies vie for exclusive content that drives subscriptions and viewer engagement. The influx of new episodes and strategic marketing efforts are expected to invigorate the show's fanbase, bringing South Park back to the forefront of popular culture while adapting to the changing dynamics of television consumption.