Close Menu
NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Subscribe
    NERDBOT
    • News
      • Reviews
    • Movies & TV
    • Comics
    • Gaming
    • Collectibles
    • Science & Tech
    • Culture
    • Nerd Voices
    • About Us
      • Join the Team at Nerdbot
    NERDBOT
    Home»Television»Paramount Countersues Warner Bros. Discovery Over South Park Streaming Rights
    "South Park"
    Television

    Paramount Countersues Warner Bros. Discovery Over South Park Streaming Rights

    Heath AndrewsBy Heath AndrewsApril 20, 20234 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

    Few programs still court controversy the way that “South Park” does. The long-running Comedy Central program has stirred up political, religious, and social debate on many occasions, and now its stirring up legal ones. Warner Bros. Discovery filed suit against Paramount Global, regarding streaming rights to the cartoon. In a not too surprising twist, Paramount has fired back with their own lawsuit, and there’s no “Chewbacca Defense” in sight for either party.

    South Park – South Park Studios/Paramount

    In February, Warner Bros. Discovery sued Paramount Global claiming they had violated the terms of the contract for streaming “South Park.” The countersuit from Paramount seeks $50 million in unpaid licensing fees that were supposed to be collected regularly as part of the agreement for HBO Max to have exclusive streaming rights to the animated comedy. It’s a complicated fight that almost comically comes down to semantics .

    Just to recap things to get everyone up to speed, “South Park” is a still, hugely in demand property. HBO Max payed $500 million in 2019 for the streaming rights for all episodes, in addition to three future seasons. At the time, Paramount+ wasn’t what it is now. It was still branded as CBS All Access, and was trying to find footing in the crowded streaming pool. When it sold the streaming rights to “South Park” to Warner Bros. Discovery (then just Warner Bros.) for HBO Max, it didn’t seem like a really big deal.

    Paramount Global found a loophole, so that they could make original “South Park” content, air it on Paramount+, and still keep the $500 million from the HBO Max deal. The contract they signed with Warner Bros. Discovery pertained only to episodes and not to movies or specials, which is exactly what Paramount+ has branded their “South Park” programs, like “South Park: Post COVID.” Additionally, Paramount seems to be deliberately shortchanging HBO Max on future episodes, as the three seasons that HBO Max received have only added up to 14 episodes total with two episodes, in Season 24, and six in Season 25 and 26. Keep in mind that seasons 17 – 23 have all had 10 episodes a piece.

    The countersuit by Paramount is almost comical in a litigious way, essentially telling Warner Bros. Discovery that it has inarguably followed through with the contract as it was written. The specials that they’ve aired on Paramount+ do not count as episodes and as for the number of episodes in a season, they claim that the contract never specifies how many episodes those seasons are supposed to consist of. Which, if that’s true and Warner Bros. Discovery signed off on a three season deal and only assumed they’d be the standard 10 episodes each, would be an astounding oversight.

    “South Park” – South Park Studios/Paramount

    So, if Paramount is following the rules of the contract, as explicitly written, they insist that Warner Bros. Discovery has no right to continue withholding payments and they request a declaratory judgment in their favor. What it will come down to though is a legal debate over the letter of the law vs. the spirit of the contract. That is to say, is the contract valid at face value, or do Paramount’s actions violate the understanding of what the contract was meant to be. The specials vs episodes part of the battle could arguably go in favor of Warner Bros. Discovery, since the difference between a “special” and an “episode” is a bit vague. But that argument about how many episodes in a season? Unless that’s specifically stated in the contract, that’s going to be a lot harder for Warner Bros. Discovery to win. Time to get that “Chewbacca Defense” ready because “THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE! If Chewbacca lives on Endor, you must acquit!”

    Do You Want to Know More?

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleToddler Manages to Infiltrate White House Grounds
    Next Article Louis Leterrier to Direct 11th “Fast & Furious” Film
    Heath Andrews

    Heath Andrews has been a student of pop culture ever since he found himself to be the only student in 3rd grade who regularly watched "Get Smart" on Nick-At-Nite. Ever since then he's been engrossed in way too much media with a growing collection of music, books, comics, TV on DVD box sets, and a video game collection that could rival a brick and mortar store. Prior to writing for Nerdbot he's written for Review You, MyAnimeList, and various advertising companies. Since 2016 he's run his own YouTube channel under the moniker of The Critical Android where he livestreams video games and uploads podcasts about pop culture and Frasier.

    Related Posts

    “Outlander” Prequel Series “Blood of My Blood” Gets Trailer

    July 10, 2025

    Netflix “Monster” Season 4 May Focus on Lizzie Borden

    July 8, 2025

    CD Projekt Red Confirm “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2” with Teaser

    July 5, 2025

    “South Park” Creators Call Paramount-Skydance Merger ‘S***show’

    July 4, 2025

    “Trainwreck: Storm Area 51” Gets Teaser for Netflix Docu

    July 2, 2025

    Neil Druckmann Leaves HBO’s “Last of Us” Ahead of Season 3

    July 2, 2025
    • Latest
    • News
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Reviews

    Understanding Human Behavior: How AI Analyzes and Predicts Decision-Making

    July 10, 2025

    Benefits of Leveraging Pharmacokinetics Services

    July 10, 2025

    Best 3-Point and PTO Stump Grinders for Tractors (2025 Buyer’s Guide)

    July 10, 2025

    Best Site to Play Cash Poker Games: GGPoker or Bodog? (2025 Comparison)

    July 10, 2025

    Gamification of Entertainment: How are new Technologies changing Indoor Game Activities?

    July 10, 2025

    Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne Farewell Concert Raises $190 Million

    July 9, 2025

    Body Found in Pasadena, CA Goodwill Donation Bin

    July 8, 2025

    Convicted Felon Billy McFarland Lists Fyre Fest for Sale on eBay

    July 8, 2025

    First Trailer for Millennium’s “Red Sonja” Hits

    July 10, 2025

    Cameras Are Rolling on “Dune Part 3”

    July 8, 2025

    James Gunn’s “Superman” Brings Updated Meaning to the Man of Steel [Spoiler-Free Review]

    July 8, 2025

    Jon M. Chu to Direct Live-Action “Hot Wheels” Movie

    July 7, 2025

    “Outlander” Prequel Series “Blood of My Blood” Gets Trailer

    July 10, 2025

    Netflix “Monster” Season 4 May Focus on Lizzie Borden

    July 8, 2025

    CD Projekt Red Confirm “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2” with Teaser

    July 5, 2025

    “South Park” Creators Call Paramount-Skydance Merger ‘S***show’

    July 4, 2025

    James Gunn’s “Superman” Brings Updated Meaning to the Man of Steel [Spoiler-Free Review]

    July 8, 2025

    The F11PRO 2 Drone – Pro-Level Performance Meets Sleek Design

    July 3, 2025
    "M3GAN," 2025

    “M3GAN 2.0” A Sequel That Forgets to Have Fun [Review]

    June 29, 2025

    “F1: The Movie” Thrilling Cars, Crash and Burn Story [Review]

    June 28, 2025
    Check Out Our Latest
      • Product Reviews
      • Reviews
      • SDCC 2021
      • SDCC 2022
    Related Posts

    None found

    NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Nerdbot is owned and operated by Nerds! If you have an idea for a story or a cool project send us a holler on [email protected]

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.