'South Park' Finds New Streaming Home on Paramount+ With $1.5 Billion USD Deal

Hypebeast

4 days ago

Summary
In a dramatic pivot that reshapes the streaming landscape,South ParkcreatorsTrey ParkerandMatt Stonehave reportedly signed a $1.5 billion USD deal withParamount, according to a report fromtheLos Angeles Times. The five-year agreement, valued at $300 million USD annually, grants Paramount the global streaming rights to the long-running animated juggernaut — marking a significant move that pulls the series away from its previous home onHBO Maxand places it squarely at the center of Paramount's streaming strategy.
The deal arrives after months of tense negotiations, stalled premieres, and behind-the-scenes legal threats. According to insiders, the creators initially pitched a 10-year, $3 billion USD pact. But withSkydance Mediacurrently in the process of acquiring Paramount Global, the terms were scaled back. Skydance reportedly balked at the original length and price tag, delaying the agreement and nearly derailing the upcoming season.
Parker and Stone didn't hide their frustration. As news broke of the Season 27 premiere delay — moved from July 9 to July 23 —theSouth ParkX accountshared a blunt statement:
'This merger is a shit show and it's f*cking up South Park.'
That tension wasn't just for show. Sources say the pair's legal team even threatened to sue Paramount and Skydance multiple times during the negotiation process. At one point, incoming Paramount president Jeff Shell was accused of interfering with existing talks between Parker, Stone, and bothNetflixandWarner Bros. Discovery.
Under the new agreement, Paramount will become the exclusive US streaming home for all regularSouth Parkepisodes, while also restoring the series to international markets where previous licenses had lapsed. Additionally, Parker and Stone will deliver 10 new episodes per year through their production company Park County, separate from their ongoing deal withComedy Central, which still holds the show's cable rights through 2027.
The timing is strategic. The show's 27th season kicks off July 23 on Comedy Central — just days before Parker and Stone appear atSan Diego Comic-Con, whereas further announcements are expected.
For Paramount, the acquisition is a major win.South Parkis one of the few remaining animated titles with both cultural longevity and a fiercely loyal fanbase. With streaming platforms racing to lock down exclusive IP, this deal positions Paramount as a more serious player in the streaming services—at a time when every subscriber counts.
But with the Skydance merger looming and Parker and Stone still renegotiating their broader creative deal, questions remain about whatSouth Park'slong-term future looks like — and whether the foul-mouthed kids of Colorado can stay afloat amid the chaos of corporate consolidation.