South Park Is Headed to a New Streaming Service (But It’s Complicated)

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As a devoted cinephile, I’m thrilled about the upcoming Season 27 of South Park. While many might assume it’ll be as simple as switching channels, the truth is more intricate. Starting from July 9th, when Season 27 premieres on Comedy Central, South Park will also be available for streaming on Paramount+. Interestingly, this premiere date seems carefully chosen, as it falls just a week after Paramount takes over exclusive streaming rights from HBO Max, whose licensing deal ends on June 30th. However, recent reports suggest there’s a glimmer of hope that South Park might not completely bid farewell to HBO Max.

In 2019, Paramount and Warner Media sealed an exclusive domestic streaming rights contract worth $300 million for South Park’s past and future seasons. This agreement was made prior to the launch of Paramount+. When Paramount+ went live, South Park produced some special episodes that were not covered under the HBO Max deal. This move led Warner Bros. Discovery to file a lawsuit against Paramount, a case that is currently ongoing.

Initially, South Park will broadcast new episodes and old material on Paramount+. However, discussions are taking place that might keep South Park available on HBO Max as well. These talks are said to be preliminary, indicating that Paramount is shopping the series around. If Paramount decides to collaborate with HBO Max, then other platforms like Paramount+ could share South Park content. At this point, it’s uncertain whether Paramount+ will remain the sole platform for South Park or if it may also appear on HBO Max. We’ll have to wait and see what happens next.

In 2021, the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, extended their contract with Paramount, running until 2027. This agreement encompassed the production of 14 movies for Paramount+’s streaming platform. Chris McCarthy, President/CEO -MTV Entertainment & CCO/Adult Animation – Paramount+, expressed his enthusiasm about this continued partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to extend and strengthen our long-standing relationship with the incredibly talented Matt and Trey, whose biting wit masterfully satirizes cultural absurdities. This collaboration will play a significant role in bolstering Paramount+ and Comedy Central.” McCarthy also highlighted that expanding popular content like South Park and creating new intellectual properties with exceptional talent such as Parker and Stone is central to their strategy for the ongoing growth of Paramount+.

As long-time residents of Comedy Central for a whopping 25 years, it’s heartening to know they’ve pledged their support for another impressive 75 years! When the pandemic hit and we needed to innovate our show’s production, Chris McCarthy, Nina Diaz, Keyes Hill-Edgar, and Tanya Giles jumped on board without hesitation. Their encouragement enabled us to experiment with a fresh approach that has been warmly received by fans. Though we eagerly anticipate returning to our traditional South Park episodes, this new partnership opens up exciting opportunities for us to explore different formats. We’re thrilled to have partners who are always ready to take a leap of faith with us!

The 26th season was filmed in the year 2023, but only recently, in 2025, have three specials aired since then. A gap of two years has transpired between seasons. Although outside commitments played a role, creators Parker and Stone had previously mentioned to Vanity Fair that they intended to steer clear of the 2024 Presidential election, as well as giving Paramount some time to sort out their plans.

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2025-05-17 17:12