South Park's Upcoming Streaming Deal: A Multi-Million Dollar Opportunity

The latest perennially popular TV series to get a nice big payday courtesy of a new streaming deal is Comedy Central's long-running animated cash cow South Park, which Bloomberg reports is close to a new streaming deal that could be worth as much as $500 million. The animated series has captured the hearts of fans since its debut in 1997, and it continues to be a cultural phenomenon. With its satirical take on current events, South Park has not only entertained audiences but has also managed to secure significant financial deals over the years.

South Park can currently be streamed on Hulu, as well as on its own designated website that’s purportedly powered by Hulu. However, major streaming platforms like HBO Max and NBC's Peacock are now also vying for the series, making this a highly competitive bidding war. The anticipation surrounding this potential deal has fans and industry experts alike eagerly awaiting the outcome, as the highest bidder will secure streaming rights to the beloved show.

With streaming rights valued in the neighborhood of half a billion dollars, South Park is part of a select club of big-ticket TV streaming favorites, including Seinfeld, Friends, and The Big Bang Theory. Unlike these recently lucrative hits, South Park is still in production at its original home on Comedy Central, currently in its 23rd season and recently renewed for three more seasons. This means any deal struck will not only encompass the extensive back catalog but also the many future episodes to come, solidifying its position in the streaming landscape.

If you're a current or former South Park fan, you might be wondering how much money the show’s creators and stars Trey Parker and Matt Stone stand to gain from such a big streaming deal. The New York Times reported back in 2007 that Parker and Stone had signed an unprecedented deal with Comedy Central's parent company Viacom for 50 percent of revenue from advertising, licensing, merchandise, and syndication. This is an incredibly large piece of the pie that creators almost never get. Assuming that streaming deals fall under the terms of that contract, if the streaming rights for the show go for $500 million, they’ll each stand to make a cool $125 million in the deal!