Paramount has secured streaming rights for the entire South Park back catalog through a new five-year agreement worth $1.5 billion with creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Previously, HBO Max held the streaming rights for the series.
The media company has finalized lengthy negotiations to bring the full South Park library to its Paramount+ streaming platform, a move that comes with a significant price tag.
Paramount agreed to pay the production company owned by Stone and Parker $1.5 billion for global streaming rights over the next five years. While HBO Max once streamed the show, Paramount had been airing South Park original films on its own service.
Initially, Paramount proposed a co-streaming arrangement with HBO Max, allowing both platforms to air back episodes. However, talks between the two companies collapsed last weekend, according to the Los Angeles Times.
This deal coincides with the premiere of South Park’s 27th season on Wednesday night on Comedy Central, a launch that was delayed due to behind-the-scenes changes. Stone and Parker are also set to appear at Comic-Con on Thursday, where they are known for candid commentary.
The $1.5 billion price has drawn attention, especially since Paramount recently canceled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, attributing the decision to financial reasons. Critics have pointed to the company’s recent settlement with Donald Trump regarding his claim about an unfairly edited 60 Minutes clip last year. Colbert described that settlement as “a big fat bribe.”
