Streamers exterior of the U.S. can now not entry South Park on Paramount+.

Sources have confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Paramount+’s license to stream the sequence internationally has expired, noting the streaming platform is in continued negotiations and hopes to have the sequence again up quickly for all subscribers. Worldwide followers of the long-running animated sequence can nonetheless stream South Park specials on Paramount+ and watch the present on Comedy Central, nevertheless.  

The information of the expired worldwide license comes simply days after it was introduced that the season 27 premiere of South Park has been pushed again two weeks to July 23 from its authentic date of July 9 amid a streaming rights battle between the present’s creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Comedy Central’s guardian firm Paramount International.

A tweet posted to South Park’s official X profile following the July 2 announcement learn: “In response to the press launch from Comedy Central about the change in premiere date for South Park Trey Parker & Matt Stone stated — ‘This merger is a shitshow and it’s fucking up South Park. We’re at the studio engaged on new episodes and we hope the followers get to see them someway.”

As first reported by The Hollywood Reporter final month, Parker and Stone threatened authorized motion towards Paramount, accusing incoming president Jeff Shell of interfering with their contract negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Netflix. Shell, at present chairman of sports activities and media at Redbird Capital Companions, is about to take the reins as soon as the merger between David Ellison’s Skydance and Paramount International is full. The deal, initially set to shut on July 6, is at present awaiting Federal Communications Fee approval to switch Paramount’s broadcast licenses to Skydance. On Monday, representatives for the Worldwide Brotherhood of Teamsters and its Hollywood Native 399 and the Middle for American Rights met with the FCC to debate concessions and emphasize their “dedication to explaining and applauding a ultimate license package deal that protects the pursuits of staff, customers, and buyers.”

Paramount at present has two years left on its $900 million deal for the digital rights to South Park. In the June 21 letter written by an lawyer for Parker and Stone’s leisure firm Park County, Shell is alleged to have requested potential bidders to switch sure phrases of their provides in a “method calculated to learn Paramount at the expense” of the firm, particularly pointing to Shell urging WBD to offer Paramount+ an unique 12-month window for brand new episodes of the present and to shorten the time period of the deal from 10 to 5 years.

“We hereby demand that you simply, Redbird, and Skydance instantly stop your interference,” the letter reads. “If these actions proceed, we may have no selection however to behave to each shield our rights and discharge any obligations we could must the public.”

In response, a spokesperson for Skydance launched a press release which learn, “Underneath the phrases of the transaction settlement, Skydance has the proper to approve materials contracts.”

South Park first debuted on Comedy Central on Aug. 13, 1997. The season 26 finale episode “Spring Break” aired on Mar. 29, 2023, with three specials following between October 2023 and Might 2024.