South Park Creators ERUPT Over Paramount Merger

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In an unusual show of dissent, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone of the popular series South Park have voiced strong criticism towards the higher-ups at their network, accusing them of holding up the release of the eagerly anticipated 27th season due to a pending merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media.

The first episode of South Park this season was originally planned for early July, but it’s been moved to July 23rd at 10 p.m. EST on Comedy Central. This information was subtly shared by the show’s official X account earlier today, followed by a strong announcement from the creators themselves.

Parker and Stone expressed their disappointment with this merge, stating it’s causing chaos at South Park. They are currently producing new episodes in the studio and wish for fans to be able to enjoy them eventually.”

“In regard to the current merger, Parker and Stone voiced their concerns, stating it’s been quite a mess for South Park. They’re hard at work on new episodes and hope that fans will get to watch them in some way or another.

The bluntness is vintage South Park, but the situation behind the scenes is anything but a joke.

A Two-Week Delay With a Lot More Under the Surface

The creators of South Park, Parker and Stone, have suggested that the delay in the release of new episodes is due to corporate interference linked to the upcoming merger between Paramount and Skydance. This merger, expected to be finalized by July 6th, will transfer control of Paramount Global to David Ellison’s Skydance, with backing from RedBird Capital and Comcast. However, neither Comedy Central nor Paramount Global have given a reason for the delay.

The reorganization has appointed Jeff Shell, a previous executive from NBCUniversal, as the new CEO of the combined corporation. Parker and Stone claim this decision is creating turmoil within their franchise.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the pair assert that Shell and related entities have interfered in the ongoing discussions about streaming for South Park. They allege that Shell has attempted to influence Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix, pushing them to modify their agreements to benefit Paramount+ instead.

Within a legal document sent to the concerned entity, the duo’s company, Park County, alleges that Shell, Skydance, and RedBird manipulated third parties to shorten licensing periods, diminish deal values, and grant Paramount+ an exclusive 12-month streaming rights for newly released episodes.

The letter states, “Immediately stop interfering, RedBird and Skydance, as this is our request. Persist in such actions, and we will be compelled to take steps to uphold our rights and fulfill any responsibilities owed to the public.

South Park Caught in a Corporate Tug-of-War

As a devoted fan, I must say that the current confrontation between the creators of South Park and the influential figures supporting their studio is particularly intriguing. This time, it seems they’ve taken their knack for mocking authority to a new level by squaring off against real-life power players who fund their studio. The timing couldn’t be more challenging, as Season 27 marks a fresh collection of episodes after a two-year break, following a series of streaming specials and a pause during the lockdown period.

Enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the show’s comeback might find themselves unwittingly in the middle of what Parker and Stone perceive as a corporate power grab. This action, if their claims hold true, poses a significant threat not just to their production schedule but also the lasting success of their streaming agreements.

At present, the comedy series is set to broadcast on Comedy Central. However, there’s uncertainty regarding its online streaming privileges in the future. Presently, Max owns most of the South Park episodes, whereas Paramount+ has been hosting special exclusives more recently.

It’s well-known that media corporations are merging rapidly, almost recklessly so. However, the fusion of massive enterprises with sharp wit and sarcasm could potentially have overstepped the mark in this instance.

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2025-07-03 23:56