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‘South Park' creators reach US$1.5 billion streaming deal with Paramount: report

‘South Park' creators reach US$1.5 billion streaming deal with Paramount: report

Business Times2 days ago
[BENGALURU] South Park, the animated comedy featuring foul-mouthed children, has reached a US$1.5 billion streaming deal with Paramount, the LA Times reported on Monday (Jul 21).
Paramount has agreed to acquire the global streaming rights for South Park in a deal aimed at bringing the show to its digital platform, Paramount+, the report said, citing sources familiar with the negotiations.
The deal with the show's creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, through their Park County Production company, values the global streaming rights at US$300 million annually, the report said, adding that the five-year deal would bring the show US$1.5 billion from streaming alone.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours, while Park County Production could not be reached for comment.
The news comes just ahead of Comedy Central's premier of the 27th season of South Park on Wednesday.
South Park premiered on Comedy Central, a network owned by Paramount, in August 1997. REUTERS
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After much speculation, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham announce Buckingham Nicks reissue
After much speculation, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham announce Buckingham Nicks reissue

CNA

time15 hours ago

  • CNA

After much speculation, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham announce Buckingham Nicks reissue

They're not going their own way anymore. After much speculation, Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham announced Wednesday (Jul 23) the reissue of Buckingham Nicks, more than 50 years after the release of their only full-length album as a duo. Originally released in 1973, Buckingham Nicks is not currently available on streaming platforms. According to Discogs, the album was last issued on vinyl on the Polydor label in the US in 1981. The remastered version arrives Sep 19 via Rhino Records' high-fidelity series and was sourced from the original analogue master tapes. The album will also receive a CD and digital release for the first time, and the opening track, Crying In The Night, was available to stream Wednesday. Buckingham and Nicks were in their early to mid-20s during the making of their album. 'It was a very natural thing, from the beginning,' Nicks says in the re-release's liner notes, written by music journalist David Fricke. Despite their relative inexperience, 'it stands up in a way you would hope it would, by these two kids who were pretty young to be doing that work', Buckingham says, according to the announcement release. The reissue announcement was foreshadowed by cryptic Instagram posts last week. Both Nicks and Buckingham shared handwritten lyrics to their official social media accounts. 'And if you go forward…' Nicks posted, a line from their song Frozen Love, which appears on Buckingham Nicks. 'I'll meet you there,' Buckingham shared, completing the lyric. In 2011, Buckingham told Uncut that he and Nicks had 'every intention of putting that album back out and possibly even doing something along with it, but I can't put any specifics on that'. In 2013, on the album's 40th anniversary, Fleetwood Mac released Extended Play, their first new studio material since 2003's Say You Will. The four-track collection featured a song titled Without You, which had been originally slated for Buckingham Nicks. The reissued version of Buckingham Nicks features the same album cover as the original, despite Nicks' public dissatisfaction with the photograph, telling classic rock magazine MOJO that she 'felt like a rat in a trap' during the shoot. 'I'm actually quite prudish. So when they suggested they shoot Lindsey and I nude I could not have been more terrified if you'd asked me to jump off a speeding train,' Nicks told MOJO in 2013. 'Lindsey was like, 'Oh, come on – this is art. Don't be a child!' I thought, 'Who are you? Don't you know me?'' Buckingham Nicks was released one year before they joined Fleetwood Mac, and was met with little commercial success. But it did attract the attention of Mick Fleetwood, who invited Buckingham to join Fleetwood Mac. Buckingham in turn insisted Nicks come, too. The two, then a couple, became the central faces, voices and songwriters of the group for the four decades that followed. The pair's tumultuous relationship appeared across the band's discography: She wrote Dreams about him. He wrote Go Your Own Way about her. Infamously, they broke up while writing the 1977 hit album Rumours. Footage of Nicks staring down Buckingham 20 years later during a performance of Silver Springs routinely goes viral ('You'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you,' Nicks and Buckingham sing in unison, at one point, holding each other's gaze.) Buckingham left the band in 1987, returning in 1996. The last time the band reunited, however, for a 2018-2019 tour, the rest of the members kicked Buckingham out, and as a result, he sued them. He claimed he was told five days after the group appeared at Radio City Music Hall that the band would tour without him. He says he would have been paid at least US$12 million for his share of the proceeds. Later that year, Buckingham said they had settled the lawsuit. Both Buckingham and Nicks have also released reams of solo music. Some fans had theorised that Nicks and Buckingham were teasing a Fleetwood Mac reunion, which would have been the first since the death of vocalist, songwriter and keyboard player Christine McVie in 2022.

‘Fantastic Four' film feels like a beginning for Marvel's first family
‘Fantastic Four' film feels like a beginning for Marvel's first family

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‘Fantastic Four' film feels like a beginning for Marvel's first family

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How the shoe brand worn by Blackpink's Jennie, Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez chose Singapore for its first store
How the shoe brand worn by Blackpink's Jennie, Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez chose Singapore for its first store

CNA

time19 hours ago

  • CNA

How the shoe brand worn by Blackpink's Jennie, Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez chose Singapore for its first store

When it comes to fashion, everything Blackpink's Jennie touches turns to gold – and her outing in ruby-hued Mary-Janes from sustainable footwear brand Vivaia was no exception. After performing at Coachella this year, the K-pop star posted a casual snap of herself in the coveted shoes on Instagram. Demand for the Margot Mary-Jane surged overnight, with the style racking up over 150,000 sales globally. But viral fame, while exhilarating, is not the cornerstone of the brand's success. What's powering the US-based label's meteoric rise in just five years – from a digital-first startup to a global name with a physical flagship in Singapore – are shoes that marry sleek design, sustainability and real-world wearability. Vivaia (pronounced vi-vai-yah) was founded in 2020 by Jeff Chan and Marina Chen, who are in their '40s'. Their origin story, as Chan tells it, began with a band-aid. 'My wife has over 200 pairs of shoes, but every time she wore heels, she had to carry a band-aid,' he said. 'When I asked why, she said, 'It's not the shoes. It's my feet that don't fit in them.'' That insight became the seed of something bigger for the serial entrepreneur, who previously co-founded travel gear brand Nordace. Chan brought the idea to Chen, a footwear industry professional well-versed in sourcing and product development. She immediately saw the potential. 'The question I kept hearing from women was: Why can't heels or dress shoes feel like sneakers?' she said. 'I wanted to design shoes that didn't force women to choose between feeling good and looking good.' Viviaia was launched in the United States in 2020, initially operating as a direct-to-consumer online label. Today, its brand marketing and public relations teams operate out of New York, while Chan is based in Hong Kong. Chen splits her time between Asia, the United States and Europe to stay connected with their global teams and markets. The founders declined to share their nationalities, and information regarding their backgrounds is not publicly available. A PHYSICAL HOME IN SINGAPORE While Vivaia's shoes are spotted on everyone from Katie Holmes to Bella Hadid, the brand's first-ever physical store didn't open in New York or Seoul – but right here in Singapore. In 2023, Vivaia opened its first retail outlet at Bugis Junction, a move Chan describes as a 'truly meaningful milestone'. 'What made it so special was the opportunity to let customers experience our shoes firsthand – to feel the comfort, try them on and share their feedback directly with us. That plays a big role in helping us continuously improve our designs.' Since then, five more stores have opened in Singapore, cementing it as the brand's regional stronghold. 'From early on, we saw strong interest from our Singaporean community on social media, especially around having a retail presence. The city's blend of style and sustainability aligned perfectly with Vivaia's values. What surprised us most was how deeply customers connected with our story – not just the shoes,' he added. MEET THE IT SHOES View this post on Instagram A post shared by VIVAIA INDONESIA (@ Ask any Vivaia fan in Singapore and chances are they'll mention the Margot Mary-Jane – the viral square-toe flat worn by Jennie. With an adjustable strap and all-day wearability, the machine-washable style has become one of the brand's top global bestsellers. 'From the start, we had a strong sense it would resonate,' said Chen. 'It's based on our original bestseller, the Margot, but with design tweaks like adding an adjustable strap that adapts to different arch shapes, and a square toe for wider feet. Since launching it in late 2023, we've sold over 150,000 pairs.' Then there's the Sneakerina – recently spotted on Bella Hadid. 'The material was a big challenge. We had to figure out how to use recycled materials to make the satin feel and capture the elegance of a ballet flat while delivering sneaker-level comfort,' she shared. "We developed a unique triple-layer sole for better support. Since satin is hard to maintain, we worked through multiple rounds of testing to make the Sneakerina machine-washable without losing its shape.' Local customers have also made the shoes their own. 'Customers here often pair the Margot Mary-Jane with breezy, minimalist looks,' said Chen. 'In New York, it's styled with jeans, a blazer and bold accessories. With the Sneakerina, we see Singaporeans styling it from work to brunch, while New Yorkers go for a more fashion-forward and playful look with different shoe laces.' PURPOSE MEETS POLISH In the early days, one of the brand's biggest design challenges was striking the balance between function and form. 'For instance, the width of a shoe can pull us in two directions,' explained Chan. 'On one hand, comfort typically calls for a wider fit to provide ample space, while a sleek look often demands a narrower design to achieve that chic, sexy silhouette.' To navigate these trade-offs, Chen – who has over 20 years of experience in the footwear industry, including senior roles at Nike and Nine West – leads product development and innovation. She works closely with their teams to fine-tune structure, fit and material performance. Chan oversees branding, customer insights and operations, ensuring the business stays nimble and responsive to real-world feedback. For Chen, Vivaia's evolution has also been deeply personal. 'I've experienced the same frustrations our customers have. I've worn heels that look beautiful but leave you in pain by the end of the day,' she said. 'I've always believed women shouldn't have to choose between feeling good and looking good.' That is why, she says, every Vivaia design is shaped by her own experience. "From the chic look to the comfortable fit and timeless silhouettes, every pair is a reflection of what I've needed at different occasions, and what I've heard from women around me.' And then there's the woman who unknowingly inspired it all: Chan's wife. 'She's proud – and still a little amused – to be our muse,' he said, cheekily noting that her favourite shoes seem to change as quickly as the brand evolves. SUSTAINABILITY AT ITS CORE View this post on Instagram A post shared by VIVAIA | Eco-Friendly Footwear (@vivaia_official) Every pair of Vivaia shoes is crafted using 3D knitting technology to significantly reduce production waste. The uppers are made from recycled PET bottles – each pair repurposes about six plastic bottles, transforming them into breathable, durable yarns knit directly to shape. 'Any small amounts of leftover material are recycled back into the production cycle,' said Chan. The soles are made from sugarcane-based EVA, a non-toxic, fully recyclable material, while packaging uses recycled cardboard. It's all part of a larger goal: Zero-waste manufacturing. 'We have always been committed to 'doing the hard but right things',' Chan added. "This principle is not just a challenge, it reflects our corporate culture. We are willing to make decisions and take actions that may not gain immediate rewards, but are aimed at long-term sustainability.' WHEN HOLLYWOOD COMES CALLING View this post on Instagram A post shared by VIVAIA INDONESIA (@ The brand's first big brush with fame came when actress Katie Holmes was seen in Vivaia sneakers in 2023, followed by Selena Gomez sharing the Julie Pro heels on Instagram. 'That moment went viral, it really put us on the map,' said Chen. 'People started recognising us as 'the brand worn by Katie and Selena'.' Even now, the thrill of recognition hasn't worn off for the founders. 'It's both surreal and incredibly exciting for our team. It continues to inspire us every day,' she shared. WHAT'S NEXT Now in its fifth year, Vivaia shows no signs of slowing down. The company has grown into a global team of over 200 people across design, R&D, marketing, logistics and customer care – and since its launch, has reached more than a million customers in 61 countries. Its top markets include the United States, United Kingdom and Japan. 'Over the next five years, our focus is to keep listening closely to our customers, investing in great people, and continuously improving our products,' said Chan. 'We want to reach more people and make it easier for people everywhere to experience what we stand for.'

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