In a bold return to television after a nearly two-and-a-half-year hiatus, *South Park* launched its 27th season on July 23, 2025, with a premiere episode that pulled no punches. Titled “Sermon on the Mount,” the episode aimed at the 47th President, Donald Trump, depicting him in a provocative scene sharing a bed with Satan while facing pointed questions about rumored ties to the Jeffrey Epstein files. The biting satire, a hallmark of creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, also tackled government censorship, the “death of wokeness,” and religion in public schools, ensuring the show remains as unapologetically audacious as ever.
The episode’s release coincided with a seismic business development for the *South Park* franchise. Just hours before the premiere aired on Comedy Central, Parker and Stone’s production company, Park County, finalized a monumental five-year, $1.5 billion deal with Paramount Global. This agreement secures exclusive global streaming rights for *South Park* on Paramount+, covering all 26 previous seasons and 50 new episodes to be produced over the next five years. New episodes will debut on Comedy Central and stream on Paramount+ the following day, marking the first time the series will be fully available on Paramount’s platform in the U.S. after years on rival HBO Max.
The deal, valued at approximately $300 million annually, underscores *South Park*’s status as one of television’s most lucrative franchises. Through their joint venture, *South Park* Digital Studios, Parker and Stone will retain nearly half of the streaming revenue, a unique arrangement that amplifies their financial stake in the show’s success. The agreement also resolves recent tensions, including a legal dispute with Paramount and its incoming owner, Skydance Media, which had delayed the season premiere by two weeks. Parker and Stone expressed gratitude to Paramount co-CEO Chris McCarthy and COO Keyes Hill-Edgar, emphasizing their commitment to delivering “something special” for fans.
However, the premiere’s scathing portrayal of Trump—complete with references to his lawsuits, a comically exaggerated physical depiction, and Satan’s probing question, “Are you on the list or not?”—has sparked speculation about potential backlash. Social media posts on X reflect mixed sentiments, with some fans praising the “classic bold satire” and others questioning whether the episode risks alienating a portion of the show’s audience or complicating Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance. The episode also took jabs at Paramount itself, referencing the company’s $16 million settlement with Trump over a 60 Minutes lawsuit and the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, adding a layer of corporate critique to the satire.
For stakeholders, this dual narrative of creative audacity and financial triumph highlights *South Park*’s enduring cultural and economic power. The show’s ability to provoke while commanding a billion-dollar deal reaffirms its unique position in the entertainment landscape. As Paramount+ bets big on *South Park* to bolster its streaming service, the question remains: will the show’s fearless commentary continue to captivate audiences, or could its latest provocations stir unforeseen challenges for its corporate partners?
