In a grievance filed on Friday in a New York country court docket in Manhattan, Warner stated it paid Paramount and “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone greater than $500 million in 2019 for the distinctive proper to move 333 episodes domestically on HBO Max, along with the impending seasons 24 to 26.
Warner stated that after being advised in 2020 it would now not acquire 10 new episodes, representing season 24, due to the fact the COVID-19 pandemic had halted production, the “South Park” creators started producing different content, whilst Paramount organized to launch its personal Paramount+ streaming service.
The criticism stated the defendants cemented their apostasy in August 2021 when Paramount’s MTV unit introduced an settlement to move new “South Park” content material on Paramount+, via season 30 in 2027.
Warner stated it now expects to get hold of solely 14 of the 30 new “South Park” episodes it had been promised, along with two “Pandemic Specials” that Paramount claims represent season 24.
“Rather than honor its responsibilities to Warner/HBO, [the defendants] engaged in a marketing campaign of verbal trickery designed to dodge the phrases of the 2019 agreement,” the grievance said.
The defendants additionally consist of MTV and South Park Digital Studios, a joint undertaking between Paramount, Parker and Stone.
“We trust these claims are except benefit and seem to be ahead to demonstrating so via the felony process,” Paramount stated in a statement.
A spokeswoman and attorneys for Parker and Stone did now not right away reply to requests for comment.
“South Park” was once launched in August 1997 on Comedy Central, owned with the aid of Paramount.