"South Park" Creators Score Big as Billion-Dollar Players in Streaming Wars

No one does satire quite like the irreverent kids of "South Park" and the show's creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are laughing all the way to the bank. The duo, known for their provocative humor and fearless socio-political commentary, just struck a landmark five-year deal with Paramount for the global streaming rights of their animated gem. The deal is a whopper, weighing in at an impressive $300 million per year; that's $1.5 billion over the agreement's term, according to sources cited by the Los Angeles Times.

While all of the deal's intricate details remain elusive, insiders have confirmed to Variety that a major agreement has indeed been inked. Paramount has yet to make an official comment, we're betting they are too busy toasting to their new multi-billion-dollar deal.

The journey to the deal hasn't been without its fair share of drama. There's been a recent face-off between Parker and Stone and Paramount. Our dynamic duo alleged that Paramount's incoming president, Jeff Shell, waded into their contract talks with Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix, stirring up some controversy. According to some Hollywood gossip, a prior deal worth a staggering $3 billion over ten years had been floated, only for the would-be purchaser of Paramount, Skydance, to put on the brakes.

Amid this corporate tug-of-war, the 27th season premiere of "South Park" got delayed by a fortnight to July 23. Not to be silenced, the creative team voiced their frustrations via the official "South Park" Twitter. "This merger is a shit show and it’s fucking up ‘South Park'," they tweeted, voicing their commitment to keep working on new episodes for their loyal fanbase.

The shiny new agreement involves Parker and Stone's Park County production company, and it charts a new course for the beloved satire, bringing regular "South Park" episodes to Paramount+ in the U.S. for the first time. This represents a major strategic pivot, as HBO Max had previously maintained an ironclad grip on the exclusive streaming rights to the series before their agreement expired last month.

The groundbreaking deal comes just in time for the launch of the show’s 27th season, which debuts on Comedy Central on Wednesday, July 23, just days before Parker and Stone are expected to grace San Diego Comic-Con.

This lucrative streaming agreement is only one part of the story. Parker and Stone are also in talks with Paramount to renegotiate an overall deal to continue generating new episodes for Comedy Central beyond their current engagement, which hangs in the balance until 2027. Their preceding deal, a cool $900 million agreement in 2021, covered Paramount+ made-for-streaming specials and the frontrunning series.

Securing the exclusive streaming rights to "South Park" is a tangible triumph for Paramount+, especially as it tries to hold its own against titans like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max while Skydance Acquisition hovers on the horizon.

Since its raucous debut in 1997, "South Park" has transformed from a rough-around-the-edges, paper-cut animation to a cultural powerhouse, unfazed by tackling politics, pop culture and the mundanity of everyday life with its signature brand of piercing satire. Looks like Parker and Stone's audacious generation of animated laughter is set to continue on its billion-dollar journey.