In a shocking turn of events, Comedy Central has announced a delay in the premiere of South Park Season 27, which has sparked frustration among the show's creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The delay is primarily attributed to an ongoing battle over streaming rights between the creators and their parent company, Paramount Global. This conflict has escalated to the point where Parker and Stone have publicly expressed their dissatisfaction, labeling the situation as a “shitshow.”

A tweet from the official South Park account conveyed their sentiments, quoting Parker and Stone: “This merger is a shitshow and it’s fucking up South Park. We are at the studio working on new episodes and we hope the fans get to see them somehow.” This statement reflects both their frustration with the current situation and their commitment to delivering new content to their dedicated fanbase.

The new premiere date for Season 27 is now set for Wednesday, July 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, a two-week delay from its original schedule. The ongoing merger between David Ellison’s Skydance and Paramount Global is set to close by July 6, although there is a possibility that this deadline may be extended.

The announcement regarding the rescheduled premiere comes in light of a reported legal dispute over the streaming rights for the beloved animated series. According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, Parker and Stone, through their attorney, issued a warning of potential legal action against Paramount, citing interference from the company’s incoming president, Jeff Shell, during negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix.

Currently, Paramount is in the midst of a lucrative $900 million deal securing the digital rights for South Park, which streams exclusively on Paramount+. Parker and Stone have expressed concerns that Shell aims to undermine competing bids from WBD and Netflix in order to maintain the status quo.

A letter detailing their grievances, dated June 21 and obtained by THR, outlines how their company, Park County, accuses Shell of meddling in negotiations. They claim Shell is attempting to modify the terms of potential deals in a way that would favor Paramount, including pushing for an exclusive 12-month window for new episodes and reducing the duration of the deal from ten years to five years. Such changes could significantly diminish the financial value of the offers they receive.

In their letter, Parker and Stone firmly demanded that Redbird Capital Partners and Skydance immediately halt their interference. They asserted that if such interference persists, they would have no choice but to take legal action to protect their rights and fulfill their obligations to the public.

The letter also accused Shell of acting without proper authority, stating, “You did this behind Park County’s back.” It further criticized the actions taken by Shell and Redbird as self-serving and in violation of the trust expected in business dealings.

Park County emphasized that Shell should not be making demands that undermine the competitive nature of their proposals, as such actions could severely impact the financial viability of their future projects.

In response to the allegations, a spokesperson from Skydance stated, “Under the terms of the transaction agreement, Skydance has the right to approve material contracts.” Meanwhile, representatives from Paramount Global and Comedy Central have yet to comment on the situation or respond to the statements made by Parker and Stone.

For context, South Park first premiered on August 13, 1997, following the success of a viral animated short titled “The Spirit of Christmas.” The series, which features characters Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny, has become a cultural phenomenon over the years. Parker and Stone continue to executive produce the series alongside Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II, with a production team that includes Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell, and Vernon Chatman. The creative direction of South Park Digital Studios, a joint venture between Parker and Stone and Paramount, is overseen by Christopher Brion.