‘South Park’ Creators Accuse Skydance of Blocking $2.5 Billion Deal

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the genius minds behind the iconic show South Park, recently expressed their desire to continue creating the series for many more years. They approached Paramount Global in February to discuss extending their current production deal, which is set to expire in 2027. Around the same time, Paramount was exploring options to secure a new streaming platform for the show, with a potential deal valued at an impressive US$2.5 billion. HBO Max and Netflix Inc. were among the interested parties eyeing the rights to air South Park.

However, things took an unexpected turn when Skydance Media, an independent entertainment company looking to acquire Paramount, intervened in the negotiations. Skydance reached out to Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. and Netflix to assert their own preferences on contract terms and deadlines. This move did not sit well with Parker and Stone, who responded with a stern letter expressing their discontent and hinting at the possibility of legal action.

Initially, Paramount had plans to split the U.S. streaming rights for South Park between HBO Max and their own streaming service, Paramount+. The proposed deal with HBO Max alone was estimated to be worth over US$1 billion for a period of 10 years, with a similar amount expected from Paramount+. However, the agreements were dependent on Parker and Stone committing to produce a significant number of new episodes.

In response to the situation, Skydance defended their actions, stating that they are aiming to instill financial discipline within Paramount, which has experienced a decline in value over the years. Amidst all the negotiations and conflicts, the fate of South Park’s streaming rights remains up in the air, as the creators, the buyers, and the streaming services try to navigate a complex and lucrative deal.