The eagerly anticipated new season of "South Park" has suffered a two-week setback in its release schedule, leaving its creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, visibly disgruntled. According to an announcement made on Wednesday, the premiere of the 27th season is now rescheduled to air on July 23rd on Comedy Central, having been originally penciled in for July 9th.
Stone and Parker, Colorado natives and proprietors of the renowned Casa Bonita restaurant in Lakewood, vented their frustration on social media over the delay. "This merger is a [expletive] mess, and it's screwing up 'South Park,'" they fumed in a statement, a likely dig at the ongoing consolidation between Comedy Central's parent company, Paramount Global, and Skydance Media. "We're toiling away at the studio on fresh episodes, and we fervently hope our fans get to witness them somehow."
Their final remark hinted at the uncertainty shrouding the viewing prospects for fans without a cable subscription. The Los Angeles Times revealed that as part of the Paramount-Skydance merger, the two media giants are locked in negotiations over the future of "South Park." Although the show has two years remaining on its contract with Paramount, new episodes will continue to air on Comedy Central during this period. Meanwhile, Paramount+ was poised to become the exclusive streaming hub for the entire "South Park" catalog starting this year, with new episodes premiering there first.
However, as reported by The LA Times on June 13th, citing three sources privy to the negotiations, "Paramount hasn't secured the streaming rights" due to complexities arising from the merger. For several years, new episodes of "South Park" have been available for streaming on HBO Max through a licensing agreement, but that deal expired in June, leaving the show's streaming availability in a state of limbo. (A representative from Paramount did not promptly respond to The Denver Post's inquiry regarding the details of the show's delay or its streaming platform.)
The situation grows even murkier. Late last month, an attorney representing Stone and Parker accused Skydance executives of meddling in negotiations as the show sought out new streaming partners, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "If these activities persist, we will be compelled to take action to safeguard our rights and fulfill any obligations we may owe to the public," the letter warned in part.
Here's to hoping that Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny make a swift return to our airwaves for what promises to be a hilarious and ketamine-infused season.
