South Park creators reach whopping $2.3 billion streaming deal
According to the LA Times, the streamer will house the fan-favourite animation for $US300 million ($460 million) per year for five years, earning Park County – Parker and Stone's company – a total of $US1.5 billion ($2.3 billion).
The whopping amount maintains the satirical cartoon's status as one of the world's most valuable TV franchises of all time.
As part of the deal, which is still being finalised, Park County agreed to produce 10 new episodes of South Park a year, giving fans of the long-running Comedy Central series plenty to look forward to beyond Season 27, which premieres this week.
The premiere date had already been delayed for two weeks as the licensing-deal negotiations were complicated by Paramount's pending sale to US media company Skydance.
The LA Times reports that South Park creators were looking for a decade-long deal for the show, but Skydance – the company that will merge with Paramount – did not favour this option.
Earlier this month, Parker and Stone expressed their frustrations over the licensing battle, saying in a statement that it was damaging their series.
'This merger is a sh**show and it's f***ing up South Park,' they wrote in a statement posted on X.
'We are at the studio working on new episodes, and we hope the fans get to see them somehow.'
According to The Hollywood Reporter, in June the duo also threatened legal action against incoming Paramount president Jeff Shell for allegedly interfering in contract negotiations with potential streamers, such as Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix.
But the high-stakes negotiations were soon back on track, with Paramount agreeing to a five-year term rather than a 10-year deal proposed by Parker and Stone. Skydance signed off on the transaction.
In addition, Parker and Stone are in talks to renew their previous $US900 million ($1.3 billion) deal to keep the show on US cable channel Comedy Central through to 2027.
South Park first debuted on 1997 and has since released more than 300 episodes.
The series has also won a slew of awards, including five Emmys for Outstanding Animated Program.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
Christie Brinkley, 71, and daughter Sailor, 27, matched with the same men on dating app
Supermodel Christie Brinkley and her look-alike youngest daughter attract the same men despite their 44-year age difference. Brinkley, 71, revealed that her 27-year-old daughter Sailor Brinkley Cook once put her on dating app for an hour without her knowing — and to both their surprise, they had mutual matches. The titbit came out during Brinkley's discussion with Sex and the City star Kristin Davis on the 'Are You A Charlotte?' podcast. Davis noted that there was an 'extreme dichotomy' between men and women over 50 when it comes to dating, sharing that the men won't date women their own age, even though the women are beautiful and accomplished. In response, Brinkley — who's currently not on any dating apps — shared the result of Sailor's 'mischievous' experiment on the unnamed platform. 'She wanted to see what kind of guys [would match] … and she put me up there … and she said, 'Mum, you're right not to go on it, because the same guys that said yes to me, are saying yes to you',' Brinkley said. Davis reacted with shock and delight. 'Wow!' she responded in disbelief. 'Smart Sailor, that is a really fascinating little experiment.' Brinkley is a mum to three children: Alexa, 39, whom she shares with ex-husband Billy Joel; son Jack, 30, whom she shares with ex-husband Richard Taubman; and daughter Sailor, whom she shares with ex-husband Peter Cook. The iconic model has been married four times — Francois Allaux from 1973 to 1981, Joel from 1985 to 1994, Taubman from 1994 to 1995 and Cook from 1996 to 2008. In her recent memoir Uptown Girl, Brinkley recalled feeling devastated after finding out Cook had been unfaithful. She recalled the moment when a Hamptons police officer told her that her 'arrogant husband' was having an affair with his teenage daughter. 'When your whole world falls apart and you realise in a heartbeat you've suddenly become the cliche middle-aged woman whose husband is having an affair with a much (much) younger woman, what do you do?' the actress wrote in her book, which was released on April 29. Brinkley and Cook, 57, split after 10 years of marriage following the affair.
Perth Now
11 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Isn't what I would have done': The Naked Gun creator David Zucker reacts to Liam Neeson's reboot
The Naked Gun creator David Zucker has offered his support for the reboot's director Akiva Schaffer, even if the movie 'isn't really what [he] would have done'. The 77-year-old filmmaker helmed the original Leslie Nielsen-starring comedy series, and Zucker is glad to see the new Naked Gun is performing well at the box office - opening with $17 million domestically - and has praised director Schaffer for his work. Zucker told The Hollywood Reporter: 'I'm excited about it because it just shows that there's a strong market for comedy in movie theaters, and spoof in particular. 'People are liking it, which is great. I really like the director, and I just couldn't wish him more well. 'I texted him already, saying, 'I hear the reviews are great, and it's tracking well.' He was very happy to hear from me, and we'll probably get together later in the month when the smoke clears.' Zucker had initially worked on a script for a fourth Naked Gun movie with Pat Proft and Mike McManus - which would have focused on Frank Drebin's (Nielsen) 30-something-year-old son - though Paramount Pictures ultimately chose to move ahead without the original creators for the reboot. As a result of feeling burned, Zucker said he had no plans to watch The Naked Gun in the cinema. He explained: 'I'm not gonna see it, but I don't see any of the sequels that were of my material done by other people, and that's fine. I've told Akiva that I have no intention to see it. 'He actually invited me to come see an early cut of it, but I told him there's nothing I could do to help because it really isn't what I would have done. 'That's not to say that he didn't actually end up doing a good movie. But I don't think I could help with that.' Zucker added he didn't want to be credited as an executive producer for The Naked Gun, even though Paramount had offered him just that. He said: 'I won't take credit on anything that I didn't work on from the beginning. I don't need the money. 'After the agents and managers, it would have paid three electric bills, probably. If it's a big hit, Akiva should get the credit, and he deserves it.' Zucker hopes the success of The Naked Gun will give momentum to his movie that was initially planned to be the fourth Naked Gun film, though is now titled Counterintelijence. However, the director wishes the best for The Naked Gun and is glad producer Seth MacFarlane spoke with him shortly after the reboot's script was finished. Zucker said: 'He spent the first 10 minutes telling me how much he loved Airplane, The Naked Gun and Top Secret. 'I can't get mad at anyone who will tell me what a genius I am. That was a good conversation. I was glad that Seth called, but I told him politely, 'Good luck, but I can't put my name on this.' [But] everything happens for a reason.' In The Naked Gun, rookie detective Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) stumbles into his first big case, and a complicated romance with bombshell Vinessa (Pamela Anderson), while trying to stop a criminal conspiracy. Chaos, clueless heroics, and classic slapstick follow in his father's footsteps.
Daily Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
TV reviews: Platonic, Eyes Of Wakanda, Demascus and Chief of War
We've sifted through the latest offerings from TV and streaming platforms to find the best shows you should be watching this week. Rose Bryne and Seth Rogen in a scene from Platonic. ONE SHOW. TWO VIEWS PLATONIC NEW EPISODES WEDNESDAYS, APPLE TV+ After the fabulous first season of Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne's comedy about old college buddies Will and Sylvia who reconnect while both are married to other people, there are still plenty who think Hollywood cliches are going to win out and the pair will end up romantically involved. Guess again. 'People still want it to happen and ask us if it's going to happen,' says Rogen. 'It's not going to happen'. Taking the 'will-they, won't they' out of the equation is the whole point and allows for a fresher take on friendship – not to mention family, careers and middle age. Having worked together for more than a decade, Byrne and Rogen have a real-life connection that easily translates on to the screen even when they are frequently screaming at each other and finding new ways to screw up each other's lives. In a step up from the first season, as Will's wedding approaches and Sylvia prepares to return to work, side characters such as Sylvia's lawyer husband Charlie and bestie Katie also get their chance to shine, making for one of the funniest shows around. JAMES WIGNEY Rose Bryne and Seth Rogen in season two of Platonic. Billy Crystal's character in When Harry Met Sally was wrong. Men and women can be friends. That's certainly clear in this quirky comedy about best mates, Sylvia and Will (Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen). Unlike Harry and Sally (Crystal and Meg Ryan) who's friendship slowly and hilariously evolved into romance in the 1989 comedy classic, there's never the slightest suggestion of attraction between Sylvia and Will. And that's reinforced by having real life buddies, Byrne and Rogen at the helm. Certainly, Platonic feels tailor made for the frequent collaborators. As mum-of-three Sylvia, Byrne gets to once again show her skill at playing uptight women who are secretly champing at the bit to let loose. While Rogen leans into his long and storeyed history of playing likeable slackers, as craft beer connoisseur, Will. Having renewed their friendship in season one, this follow-up sees the pair's friendship tested by Will's new romance. While Sylvia's marriage is strained by her new career as a party planner and her usually dependable husband's midlife crisis. SIOBHAN DUCK Okieriete Onaodowan in a scene from Demascus on Tubi. DEMASCUS TUBI Some of the strangely familiar tech in this near-future-set, six-part sci-fi comedy will leave viewers wondering whether its unconventional therapy techniques are really that far away in this ever-changing AI driven world. At the encouragement of his outspoken therapist (played by Janet Hubert from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air), Okieriete Onaodowan's weed loving, slightly lost title character signs up for the experimental Digital Immersive Reality Therapy (DIRT), by which he can visit alternative versions of himself 'but only as a voyeur'. As he digs deeper in search of answers about his true self, the acquired memories he gains begin to blur the lines of reality and his subconscious as he plays out scenarios of possible lives. Lisa Millar heads to the Snowy River on Back Roads. BACK ROADS THURSDAY, 8PM, ABC With Heather Ewart calling time after a decade in job, Gold Logie nominee Lisa Millar proves to be a more than capable replacement on the travel show that spotlights the country's hidden gems and the fascinating people who live there. Millar's first stop is the legendary Snowy River, beginning in the High Country where she confronts her fear of horses head on with the help of a woman who trains and rehomes Brumbies. In between gamely shooting rapids and bush-bashing in blowout prone buggy, she also meets a 98-year-old Italian expert who explains the multicultural marvel that was the Snowy Hydro Scheme and meets the Indigenous women with a profound connection to the river, just before it meets the sea. SOUTH PARK THURSDAY, PARAMOUNT+ The first episode in the long-running animated comedy's 27th season was billed as its most savage ever and it certainly didn't disappoint on that front. How you feel about the episode – featuring appearances by Satan AND Jesus – will probably correspond to the regard you have for the current American president, who bore the brunt of the show's fury. But Trey Parker and Matt Stone have always been equal opportunity offenders and also had their sights set on woke culture, religion, the media and even AI. After nearly 30 years of lewd, crude satire and mayhem with Cartman, Kyle, Kenny and Stan, audiences should know what they are in store for with whatever they come up with for this week. You have been warned. Jason Momoa in his historical drama, Chief of War. Picture: AP CHIEF OF WAR NEW EPISODES FRIDAYS, APPLE TV+ Man mountain Jason Momoa's stunning historical drama passion project has been billed as Shogun for Hawaiian culture – and it's not a bad comparison, given the scale, use of local language and political machinations punctuated by bouts of brutal and bloody violence. The former Aquaman, who also created and co-wrote the series based on actual historical events, plays Ka'iana, a warrior chief embroiled in the ongoing battle between the four major kingdoms of Hawaii. When he's summoned from his peaceful self-imposed exile by his warmongering uncle (a terrifying Temuera Morrison) for his formidable fighting skills, he begins to question the old ways and chain of command, and has his life turned upside down by an encounter with European sailors. The Voice coaches for this season: Mel C, Richard Marx, Kate Miller-Heidke and Ronan Keating THE VOICE SUNDAY, 7PM, CHANNEL 7 There's been a major shake-up for the 14th season of the long-running reality singing show, with ARIA-winning Aussie Kate Miller-Heidke the only returning coach. Joining her in the spinning chairs are Grammy winning rocker Richard Marx, former Boyzone singer Ronan Keating (last seen on the show in 2016 and a veteran of the UK and German versions) and Sporty Spice herself, Mel C. The season gets off to a flyer, with promising artists from all walks of life (Kiwi Cassie is an early standout) causing the coaches to get even more competitive then the contestants. No one is talking a back step, with Marx in particular willing to pull out every trick in the book – and his seriously impressive contacts list – to land the top talent. Noni (Winnie Harlow) and The Lion (Cress Williams) in Eyes Of Wakanda. EYES OF WAKANDA DISNEY+ With the news that Black Panther 3 is on the way with original director Ryan Coogler in charge comes this fun detour into one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's more interesting corners – the mysterious and secluded fictional African country of Wakanda. The four-part animated series, which spans centuries of Wakandan history, is mainly concerned with the Hatut Zaraza, who are basically black ops agents tasked with tracking down stolen items made of Vibranium, the substance that powers the country's advanced technology. In doing so they interact with historical eras and mythical figures from Achilles and ancient Crete to Middle Ages China, with beautifully rendered fight scenes and recreations of ancient civilisations. Michael Hutchence performing with INXS at Wembley Stadium. INXS: LIVE AT WEMBLEY SUNDAY, 8.50PM, CHANNEL 7 Seeing Never Tear Us Apart top Triple J's Hottest 100 Australian Songs last month was a reminder of just how good the band was at the peak of its powers. So too is this behind-the-scenes look at their legendary 1991 gig at London's Wembley Stadium, with late, great frontman Michael Hutchence prowling the stage belting out hit after hit and connecting with the ecstatic audience in a way that belied the vastness of the venue. With narration by Michael Usher, band members Kirk Pengilly and Jon Farriss break down the unforgettable sold-out gig (the guest list alone was more than 2000 people) song by song and reveal insights into how a pub band from Down Under made it one of the world's biggest stages. Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow in Two Lovers. TRENDING: GWYNETH PALTROW TWO LOVERS Streaming, Tubi After weeks being drip fed salacious titbits about Gwyneth Paltrow's famed romances with Ben Affleck and Brad Pitt, Amy O'Dell's explosive book Gwyneth: The Biography finally hits shelves this week. But there are other ways to dig into the Oscar winner's past that don't involve a trip to the bookstore, including revisiting this 2008 film co-starring Joaquin Phoenix. As you would expect for any project with Phoenix as leading man, this is no predictable Hollywood rom com. It sees a suicidal middle-aged New Yorker torn between the nice girl picked out for him by his parents and his self-destructive neighbour (Paltrow). While Paltrow is more focused on her Goop empire than acting these days, this film is a reminder of what a magnetic presence she is on screen.
