While MTV Entertainment Studios - which like Paramount+ is
owned by parent corporation ViacomCBS - did not release any financial figures,
Bloomberg News put the deal at $900 million, which would make it one of the
largest in television history.
The Paramount+ streaming platform launched in March in a bid
to compete in a crowded and content-hungry marketplace led by the likes of
Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime.
In a statement, MTV Entertainment's Chris McCarthy said
developing new content with "tremendous talent like Matt and Trey, is at
the heart of our strategy to continue growing Paramount+."
The deal also includes multiple new series of "South
Park" for television network Comedy Central, which will see the
long-running satire reach its 30th year by 2027.
'South Park', set in small-town America and known for crude
language and lampooning hot-button social issues since 1997, has already
spawned one film, multiple video games and other merchandise.
"Comedy Central has been our home for 25 years and
we're really happy that they've made a commitment to us for the next 75
years," said Parker and Stone in the joint statement.
"We can't wait to get back to doing traditional South
Park episodes but now we can also try out new formats," they added.
While ViacomCBS did not immediately comment on the $900
million figure, it would put the deal on a par with Reese Witherspoon's sale of
her Hello Sunshine company to a new private equity-backed media venture this
week.
It also comes after Amazon in May agreed to buy MGM studios
for $8.45 billion.
Other streaming platforms recently launched by major media
and tech companies to join the so-called "streaming wars" include HBO
Max, Peacock and Apple TV+, each seeking vast content libraries to attract and
retain subscribers.
ViacomCBS said Wednesday that it had reached 42 million
streaming subscribers. Current market leader Netflix has more than 200 million.
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