South Park will officially transition from HBO Max to Paramount+ next week, marking a significant change for fans of the long-established animated series. For the past five years, HBO Max has served as the U.S. home for South Park, featuring its comprehensive library of 26 seasons. However, this will no longer be the case, as a notice has been posted on HBO Max indicating the show’s departure on August 5.
The change comes on the heels of a substantial deal between Park County and Paramount, which includes the creation of 50 new episodes over the next five years, along with global streaming rights, including for U.S. viewers. For several weeks, both HBO Max and Paramount+ have offered the first 26 seasons of South Park, with Paramount+ also showcasing the season 27 premiere episode, which has quickly climbed to the top spot in the Paramount+ viewing rankings.
As of next week, Paramount+ will become the exclusive streaming platform for South Park, even as new episodes continue to air on Comedy Central. This transition occurs alongside Paramount’s anticipated sale to Skydance, which has played a part in the complicated negotiations regarding the show’s distribution and future.
The road to this agreement was rocky, with Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the show’s creators, previously having an understanding with Paramount regarding a 10-year contract worth around $300 million annually. However, Skydance’s involvement had added uncertainty, as they held veto power over extensive deals and were cautious about committing to a lengthy contract due to the evolving media landscape.
This negotiation delay briefly postponed the release of season 27 as all parties sought resolution, but eventually, a new agreement was reached—reportedly valued at around $300 million for a five-year term covering both streaming rights and new episodes. With this successful negotiation, the era of South Park on HBO Max will soon officially close.
The future looks promising for South Park fans as the exclusive deal on Paramount+ brings not only access to the show but also the anticipation of new episodes to look forward to in the coming years.