Who says animation is dying? Not the workforce over at South Park. The animated stalwart simply landed a brand new $1.5 billion deal over the following 5 years. The settlement ensures that South Park stays on the air and streaming on Paramount+ by no less than 2030. This deal couldn’t have come at a greater time for the trade, with worries about the way forward for South Park and animation normally. The animated hit was not too long ago faraway from Paramount+ outdoors the US. Couple that with Paramount’s merger and elevated finances cuts, and plenty of followers thought the boys of the titular Colorado city is likely to be packing it in. Now animation can breathe a sigh of reduction, no less than for now.
South Park was already coated by 2027 because of a earlier deal co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone agreed to in 2021. This new association appears to be like to be increasing on what was already in place. So what precisely are followers getting this time? Let’s break down a number of the specifics, which provide a much-needed respite for the more and more scrutinized worlds of animation and cable tv.
The Specifics of the ‘South Park’ Association
South Park
- Launch Date
-
August 13, 1997
- Community
-
Comedy Central
-
Karri Turner
Liane Cartman / Wendy Testaburger / Mrs. Crabtree (voice)
-
Kyle Broflovski / Kenny McCormick (voice)
So, how a lot South Park are we getting over the following half-decade? The deal between Parker and Stone and Paramount/Skydance covers the following 5 years and is valued at $1.5 billion, or $300 million per 12 months. Underneath the brand new phrases, South Park will stream worldwide on Paramount+ for a five-year interval. This marks the primary time the entire collection will stream on Paramount+ in the US, because it had beforehand been out there completely on HBO Max. Nevertheless, Paramount+ did characteristic a number of unique occasion specials. 5 new seasons, every comprising 10 episodes, will observe on Comedy Central.
Associated
‘South Park’ Quietly “Banning” A few of Its “Greatest” Episodes Forward of U.S. Paramount+ Streaming Debut
In line with studies, U.S. followers must nonetheless depend on their outdated DVDs to see some basic ‘South Park’ episodes.
It’s believed that the brand new deal will change the rest of the 2021 deal. That deal coated the years 2022 to 2027, although solely at a measly $900 million. On the time, Parker and Stone have been set to supply six episodes for Comedy Central and two unique Paramount+ specials every year. That was set to cowl by the thirtieth season in 2027. However that schedule did not final lengthy. It was in place for 2022 and 2023, however fell aside quickly after. Just one Paramount+ particular was launched in 2024, and no episodes aired on linear tv. Parker and Stone would later clarify that they took a break from the 2024 election cycle as a result of “Trump fatigue.” Whereas that is greater than comprehensible, the Paramount+ specials typically shied away from any overt politics. Possibly they simply wanted a break after engaged on the identical present for 25 years.
The present lastly returned to linear TV with its twenty seventh season premiere on July 23. However there isn’t a information about any extra Paramount+ occasion specials. Quite than six episodes and two double-length specials, they seem like reverting to the 10-episode-a-year schedule that was in place from 2013 to 2019.
Unfounded Fears of ‘South Park’s Cancellation
Earlier than this finalization, it appeared like there could be a tough experience to the end line. The US and international streaming rights have been up for renewal earlier this 12 months, coinciding with the merger between Paramount and Skydance. Parker and Stone weren’t in the identical ballpark as Skydance when it got here to the size of the settlement, with the 2 wanting one thing considerably longer than the brand new Paramount accomplice. Paramount’s US rights to the collection expired in June, and the worldwide rights in July. Whereas US-based followers had HBO Max as an choice, the worldwide South Park fan group noticed their entry by way of Paramount+ taken away. That led to fears that the collection could be canceled outright.
Associated
Reminder: ‘South Park’ Followers Ought to Binge the Most Controversial Episodes on Max Whereas They Nonetheless Can
‘South Park’ could also be leaving Max, and these episodes may disappear or be censored because the collection heads to its new residence on Paramount+.
The approaching negotiations even compelled Comedy Central to delay the South Park season premiere from its initially scheduled July 9 premiere to July 23, a transfer with which Parker and Stone have been vocally displeased. Now it appears to be like like all of the messy merger drama is behind us, and the 2 sides have been in a position to come collectively on the eve of the season premiere. South Park might quickly return to a semi-regular airing construction. It stays out there on HBO Max within the US as of now, though it can quickly be unique to Paramount+. That is in all probability for the most effective, as HBO Max is preoccupied with rebranding itself with the identical two names backwards and forwards.
Any followers who have been frightened about the way forward for the collection given its prolonged hiatuses ought to breathe simpler. Parker and Stone nonetheless care deeply for his or her child, even when they want breaks now and again. So, will they now cowl the “distinctive” state of present American politics? Maybe not. The 2 overtly admitted to having Trump fatigue throughout the election cycle. He is by no means actually been part of the present both, as trainer Mr. Garrison was used as a stand-in throughout Trump’s first time period. The 2 had higher tread flippantly with any potential political parody, lest they fall sufferer to a Colbert-esque “monetary determination.” The brand new season of South Park debuted on July 23 and airs Wednesday nights at 10 pm on Comedy Central.