South Park Creators in Ad-Sharing Deal with Viacom

LOS ANGELES, August 27: Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the
creators of Comedy Central’s hit animated series South Park, have concluded a new deal with the cable channel
that extends the run of the show, creates a new digital animation studio and
reportedly grants them a cut of digital advertising revenues.

According to the New York Times, the deal involves millions of dollars of cash up
front and a 50-50 digital ad revenue split. Doug Herzog, the president of MTV
Networks Entertainment Group, told the Times: “If this is seen as a bold stroke, all the better,
because it’s going to take bold thinking to move ahead.”

Stone added: “The idea that we’re getting a little piece of
it back—and in five years we’ll probably be going to court and fighting
about it—but in ownership terms, that’s kind of an amazing thing. People
always ask us, ‘You own it, right? No? Why’d you sign that deal?’ And I have to
say, ‘Because I was sleeping on my friend’s couch.’ ”

The network announced today that the series has been granted
a three-year extension, for 42 new episodes. Reports indicate that Stone and
Parker will receive sizable raises, both in terms of salaries and their cut of
ancillary revenues such as international sales and merchandise.

Furthermore, the new deal will see the creation of the South
Park Digital Studios at the South Park
headquarters in Los Angeles. It will serve as the new home for all digital
extensions of the South Park
franchise as well as an incubator for new animated projects.