Report: South Park: Is The Most Popular TV Merch, Study Finds

Despite the fact that South Park’s parent company Paramount Television recently shuttered its Comedy Central app, interest in one of the longest-running animated sitcoms of all-time is still very much at an all-time high. A recent study has identified the film and TV series with the highest demand for merchandise, with South Park securing the top positions.

The research, carried out by clothing brand Chummy Tees, analyzed online search volumes for Rolling Stone’s top 100 TV shows. By calculating average monthly figures in the US since January 2023, the study unveiled the merchandise audiences want to purchase the most.

The research took Rolling Stone’s The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. Over 3,000 keywords within Google Keyword Planner were applied to analyze which films and TV shows had the most in-demand merchandise in the US and individual states. In the top 25 series ranked, four were adult animated comedies with South Park and Rick and Morty nearly neck and neck.

The study also revealed South Park as the favorite TV show regarding merchandise, with an average of 23,868 monthly searches by the American public. Since its debut in August 1997, the show has maintained an average viewership of 2.4 million per episode and stands as one of Comedy Central’s longest-running programs. South Park‘s merchandise ranges from tumblers to bum bags, with the search term ‘South Park shirt’ hitting up to 5,241 monthly searches. Not only does South Park hold the top spot as the favorite in 19 states, including Texas, Arizona, and Illinois, but it outstrips the demand for franchises like Game of Thrones by nearly four times.

Ranked as the second-highest in merchandise searches, Rick and Morty reportedly has a monthly search volume of 23,490 and is a favorite in 17 states, including Florida, North Carolina, and Mississippi. The show commands a substantial fanbase, with records indicating a staggering 10 billion global views across linear, digital, and streaming platforms. Offering an array of merchandise ranging from blankets to stickers, the most sought-after item is the ‘Rick and Morty hoodie’, attracting up to 8,491 monthly searches.

Commenting on the results, a spokesperson for Chummy Tees said, “South Park‘s journey from controversial animated series to cultural juggernaut has certainly been a driving force behind its merchandise sale success. The show’s navigation through societal taboos and satire has not only sustained its fanbase but propelled its popularity to new heights since its debut in 1997.”.

Sources: The Numbers, Rolling Stone, Google Keyword Planner