The Streaming Saga of South Park: HBO Max Future Uncertain Amid Creators’ Lawsuit with Paramount

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The world of South Park is once again making headlines off-screen, this time with creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone reportedly threatening legal action against Paramount Global and Skydance Media.

Evidently, a fella by the name of Jeff Shell who is slated to be seen as the CEO of Paramount after the merger with Skydance is complete, has been playing behind-the-scenes antics with the likes of potential South Park licensees Netflix and MAX. .

South Park has been at the center of significant streaming deals in recent years. The entire back catalog of the show was famously licensed to HBO Max (now Max) for a hefty sum. Simultaneously, Stone and Parker inked a separate deal with Paramount+ to produce exclusive “made-for-TV movies” and “specials” under the South Park banner.

This split in content has reportedly been a point of contention for the creators, who allegedly felt that Paramount Global (then ViacomCBS) prioritized their own streaming platform by funneling new South Park content directly to Paramount+, potentially diminishing the value and exclusivity of the existing library on HBO Max.

It’s plausible that Parker and Stone are seeking assurances that their existing deals and the integrity of the South Park brand will be maintained under the new ownership structure. They may also be looking to understand how the acquisition might impact the future of the franchise across various platforms.

South Park debuts new episodes starting July 9th on Comedy Central.

Comedy Central’s “South Park” the series launched on August 13, 1997, and is based on the VHS-shared, animated short entitled “The Spirit of Christmas.” Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the co-creators of “South Park.” Parker, Stone, Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II are the Executive Producers of the Emmy®and Peabody®Award-winning “South Park.” Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell and Vernon Chatman are Producers. Christopher Brion is the Creative Director of South Park Digital Studios. “South Park’s” Website isSouthPark.cc.com

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