South Park Paramount Streaming Deal 2025: Quick Explainer
Paramount has struck a five‑year pact to buy worldwide streaming rights to South Park from the creators’ Park County venture, priced around $300M a year ($1.5B total). For the first time, Paramount+ can host the full series in the U.S., with a phased global rollout as existing territorial licenses unwind. New episodes will still air first on Comedy Central, then move to Paramount+ under the new arrangement.
$1.5 Billion…Not $15 Billion (But Still Cheesy‑Poofs Money)
Early chatter added an extra zero; ignore it. The widely reported number is $1.5B. Even so, that’s a gut‑busting spend to secure 300‑plus back episodes, future seasons, and franchise halo. Expect staggered library deliveries, linear holds, and syndication carve‑outs that only a ManBearPig‑sized legal team could love.
From HBO Max To Paramount+: The Long, Petty Custody Battle
Back in 2019, WarnerMedia paid big (trade talk put it near half a billion) to stream South Park on HBO Max through June 2025. Pandemic‑era specials and later Paramount+ “exclusive events” sparked a 2023 Warner Bros. Discovery lawsuit accusing Paramount of short‑changing Max’s exclusivity. That Max license expired in late June 2025, clearing the runway for Paramount’s new global grab—after some brinkmanship that briefly yanked episodes from various regions.
The 2021 ViacomCBS $900M Mega‑Pack That Set Up The Specials
August 5, 2021: ViacomCBS extended South Park on Comedy Central through Season 30 (2027) and ordered 14 made‑for‑streaming “movies” (rebranded as “exclusive events”) for Paramount+. Two per year was the pitch. We’ve since had Post COVID, The Return of COVID, The Streaming Wars 1 & 2, Joining the Panderverse, Not Suitable for Children, The End of Obesity and friends—bridge content that kept the brand loud while full seasons slowed.
Where To Watch South Park Right Now (UK, US & Elsewhere)
During July 2025 contract limbo, complete seasons vanished from Paramount+ in several territories outside the U.S., triggering subscriber meltdowns. Workarounds: NOW in the UK, Pluto TV in Canada, Channel 10’s streamer in Australia, and live‑TV bundles like Fubo, Philo, and YouTube TV stateside. Some regions kept legacy Max access during wind‑down. Paramount+ generally held onto the specials even when the core series blinked out. Expect availability to reconsolidate as the new deal activates.
Paramount+ Exclusive South Park Specials: Recommended Watch Order
If you like loose continuity (Tegridy Farms > time jumps > meta streaming jokes), try:
- South Park: Post COVID
- South Park: Post COVID – The Return of COVID
- South Park: The Streaming Wars (Part 1)
- South Park: The Streaming Wars (Part 2)
- South Park: Joining the Panderverse
- South Park: Not Suitable for Children
- South Park: The End of Obesity Drop between Seasons 23‑26 for callback candy, or binge straight—Cartman approves either way.
Season 27, Delays, Ketamine & Merger Meltdowns
Season 27 was dated July 9, 2025, then bumped to July 23 while Paramount wrangled rights and a still‑pending Skydance takeover. Trey Parker & Matt Stone blasted the merger as a “shit show” that’s “f***ing up South Park.” The season teaser flashes wildfires, bird flu, Diddy in orbit, and Randy’s ketamine‑adjacent life coaching. Expect Comedy Central first, then fast migration to Paramount+ as rights flip on.
Why Paramount Needs South Park More Than Cartman Needs Cheesy Poofs
Paramount’s streaming math hinges on sticky franchises that reduce churn and juice bundle deals (SkyShowtime, Sky Cinema promos, etc.). South Park is sticky gold: rewatchable, meme‑able, globally known, and rage‑tweet friendly. Internal and analyst chatter links South Park drops to spikes in watch‑time per user—exactly the engagement fuel investors demand when DTC divisions chase profit.
FAQ: South Park On Paramount+ (Short Answers)
When do all episodes land on Paramount+ U.S.? Catalog onboarding starts late 2025; full parity phases in during the deal term.
Is South Park leaving Max entirely? Max’s exclusivity ended; some overlap may linger short‑term, but Paramount+ is the permanent home.
Are the “exclusive events” movies or specials? Contract language varies; functionally longform specials on Paramount+.
Why did it vanish in my country? Old licenses expired mid‑negotiation; reactivation follows new regional deals.
How long is the show guaranteed? Current TV renewal runs through 2027; further seasons under discussion.
Final Thoughts: Respect Their Authoritah (And Check Your Queue)
A cartoon about foul‑mouthed fourth‑graders just drove a $1.5B streaming land grab, rattled merger talks, and made half the internet scream “They killed my library!” That’s franchising power. Watch territory rollout updates, any residual Max overlap, and the drip of new Paramount+ exclusives. And yes—download your favorites before the next contract cliff.
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