As South Park approaches the launch of its 27th season, significant behind-the-scenes conflicts have emerged that jeopardize the show’s future. Central to the struggle is the recent $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global by Skydance Media, which has complicated negotiations between creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker and their various distribution partners.
The issues can be traced back to 2019, when Stone and Parker’s previous 50/50 ad-sharing agreement with Comedy Central expired. Following this, they secured a five-year, $500 million deal with WarnerMedia for exclusive streaming rights to all existing and future South Park seasons, effective from June 2020 through mid-2025. However, in 2021, they transitioned back to Paramount Global, signing a lucrative $900 million deal for additional seasons and specials intended for Paramount Plus.
Complication arose when Warner Bros. Discovery filed a lawsuit against Paramount in 2023, claiming that Paramount aired new episodes of South Park, violating their exclusive rights. This dispute intensified when two ‘Pandemic specials,’ inspired by the COVID-19 experience, were aired on Comedy Central, creating further dissatisfaction for Warner Bros., which had been left waiting for new episodes.
Amid the turmoil, Stone and Parker have agreed on a new 10-year, $3 billion deal for South Park to be drafted for after 2027. However, the acquisition of Paramount Global by Skydance Media now introduces the possibility of a rival five-year deal, leading to a stalemate in negotiations for the show’s future.
As the expiration of the HBO Max deal approaches in June 2025, a fierce bidding war has ignited among platforms such as Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix, and Paramount/Skydance. Stone and Parker allege that Paramount has been impeding their negotiations with these competing streamers.
Despite having reached a temporary extension deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to keep the show available on HBO Max, complications persist. An international licensing dispute has led to South Park’s removal from Paramount Plus in multiple global markets, which caused the delay of season 27’s premiere from July 9 to July 23.
In response to the chaos surrounding this merger, Parker and Stone expressed their frustrations on social media, stating, “This merger is a shitshow and it’s fucking up South Park.” They confirmed they are actively working on new episodes and are hopeful that fans will have access to them.
As things stand, if the upcoming season debuts and the temporary streaming deal runs out, access to South Park in the United States may become severely limited. It is also concerning that several international markets remain blocked, with a looming risk of indefinite delays for future seasons if new distribution agreements aren’t established before 2027.
Despite these challenges, the creators remain committed to their work, which may resonate positively with fans eager for the series’ return. The situation underscores the complexities of content distribution in the ever-evolving entertainment industry, revealing both the challenges and the potential for renewal as new deals and partnerships come into play.