Latest news with #ParamountGlobal
CTV News
12 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Paramount+ wins 'South Park' library and new episodes after prolonged negotiations
Matt Stone, left, and Trey Parker, co-creators of "South Park," pose together at the 15th anniversary party for the animated television series, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Paramount Global has extended its partnership with 'South Park' creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone for another five years, the company said on Wednesday. Under the new deal, Paramount will pay South Park Digital Studios, co-owned by the media giant and Park County, more than US$1.25 billion, ranking it among the richest deals in television history, according to an Los Angeles Times report from Tuesday. The announcement follows the season 27 premiere of the long-running animated series on Comedy Central. Under the agreement, Paramount will air 50 new episodes across five seasons. The episodes will debut on Comedy Central before streaming on Paramount+ the following day. All 26 previous seasons will also be available on Paramount+, which regained international streaming rights after a period of contractual disputes. The deal concludes protracted negotiations between Paramount and the show's creators, who previously sued incoming Paramount President Jeff Shell, accusing him of interference with rival negotiations involving Warner Bros Discovery and Netflix. Talks were further complicated by the Skydance leadership, which is in the process of acquiring Paramount, reportedly objecting to earlier proposed terms valued at $3 billion over ten years. 'South Park' debuted on Comedy Central, a Paramount-owned network, in August 1997. Kritika Lamba, Reuters
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jon Stewart Rages Over Colbert Cancellation In F-Bomb Filled Speech
Now it's Jon Stewart's turn — and he really didn't hold back. The Daily Show host broke his silence about CBS abruptly announcing an end date to his friend and former colleague Stephen Colbert's top-rated The Late Show. More from The Hollywood Reporter Paramount and Hybe's K-pop Movie Adds Ji-young Yoo and Eric Nam, Lands 2027 Release Jimmy Fallon Addresses Colbert Cancellation: "I Don't Like What's Going on One Bit" Stephen Colbert's Late-Night Allies and Famous Friends Make Cameos on 'The Late Show' After Cancellation In fact, he might have set an f-bomb record for The Daily Show (all of which aired uncensored, which is unusual for the show). Some brief background before we get to Stewart's comments: The Daily Show and The Late Show share the same parent company, Paramount Global, which is facing financial challenges amid its effort to close a merger with Skydance Media in an $8 billion deal. The shocking cancellation decision was announced just a few days after Colbert criticized Paramount for agreeing to settle President Donald Trump's lawsuit against 60 Minutes for its former Vice President Kamala Harris' interview. Colbert previously called the $16 million payment a 'big fat bribe' as many considered the lawsuit without merit and Paramount Global's merger has been pending FCC approval. After showing a litany of examples of companies agreeing to demands made by Trump, he came to last week's news, where Colbert was axed for what CBS claimed were 'financial reasons.' 'Stephen exceeds all expectations in the role [as Late Show host] and became the number-one late-night show on network television has been an undeniable great pleasure for me as a viewer and as his friend,' said Stewart (video below), who worked with Colbert on The Daily Show from 1999 to 2005. 'Now I acknowledge late-night TV is a struggling financial model. We are all basically operating a Blockbuster kiosk inside of a Tower Records. But when your industry is faced with changes, you don't just call it a day. … The fact that CBS didn't try to save their number-one rated late-night franchise that's been on the air for over three decades is part of what's making everybody wonder: Was this 'purely financial'? Or maybe it's the path of least resistance for your $8 billion merger to kill a show that you know rankled a fragile and vengeful president who's so insecure that he's suffering terribly from a case of chronic penis insufficiency.' Stewart was just getting warmed up at this point. He continued: 'I believe CBS lost the benefit of the doubt two weeks prior when they sold out their flagship news program to pay an extortion fee to settle with the president. Look, I understand the corporate fear. I understand the fear that you and your advertisers have with $8 billion at stake. But understand this truly: The shows that you now seek to cancel, censor and control … a not-insignificant portion of that $8 billion value came from those fucking shows.' 'What made you that money are shows that say something, shows that take a stand, shows that are unafraid…' he said. 'If you believe — as corporations or as networks — that you can make yourselves so innocuous that you can serve a gruel so flavorless that you will never again be on the boy king's radar … Why would anyone watch you? And you are fucking wrong.' Stewart then pointed out that Trump just sued media mogul and Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch over The Wall Street Journal's scoop about an innuendo-stuffed birthday card that Trump reportedly wrote to Jeffrey Epstein. '[Murdoch] is the man who — other than Biden — may be the most responsible for getting Trump elected,' Stewart snarked. 'Fox spends 24 hours a day blowing Trump, and it's not enough. Imagine suing somebody mid-blow — 'finish up down there, and I'll see you in court.'' Wrapped up Stewart: 'If you're trying to figure out why Stephen's show is ending, I don't think the answer can be found in some smoking gun email or phone call from Trump to CBS executives or in CBS QuickBooks spreadsheets on the financial health of late night. I think the answer is in the fear and pre-compliance that is gripping all of America's institutions at this very moment, institutions that have chosen not to fight the vengeful and vindictive actions of our pubic hair-doodling commander in chief. To those corporations and advertisers and universities and law firms, all of them, if you still think that bending the knee to Trump will save you, I have one thing to say [breaking into song]: I know you're scared, I know you're weary, I know your plans don't include me, but these are troubled times, so sack the fuck up!' Stewart then led a chorus into a chant of telling corporations to 'go fuck yourselves' if they 'bend the knee' to Trump. Last week, before the Colbert announcement, Stewart speculated on his The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart podcast about whether The Daily Show will survive the Skydance–Paramount merger. 'Unfortunately, we haven't heard anything from them,' Stewart said. 'They haven't called me and said, 'Don't get too comfortable in that office, Stewart.' But let me tell you something, I've been kicked out of shittier establishments than that. We'll land on our feet. I honestly don't know. I think we're the only sort of life that exists on a current basis other than South Park. But I'd like to think we bring enough value to the property, like if they're looking at it as purely a real estate transaction, I think we bring a lot of value. But that may not be their consideration. I don't know, they may sell the whole fucking place for parts. I just don't know.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paramount+ wins'South Park' library and new episodes after prolonged negotiations
(Reuters) -Paramount Global has extended its partnership with "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone for another five years, the company said on Wednesday. Under the new deal, Paramount will pay South Park Digital Studios, co-owned by the media giant and Park County, more than $1.25 billion, ranking it among the richest deals in television history, according to an LA Times report from Tuesday. The announcement follows the season 27 premiere of the long-running animated series on Comedy Central. Under the agreement, Paramount will air 50 new episodes across five seasons. The episodes will debut on Comedy Central before streaming on Paramount+ the following day. All 26 previous seasons will also be available on Paramount+, which regained international streaming rights after a period of contractual disputes. The deal concludes protracted negotiations between Paramount and the show's creators, who previously sued incoming Paramount President Jeff Shell, accusing him of interference with rival negotiations involving Warner Bros Discovery and Netflix. Talks were further complicated by the Skydance leadership, which is in the process of acquiring Paramount, reportedly objecting to earlier proposed terms valued at $3 billion over ten years. "South Park" debuted on Comedy Central, a Paramount-owned network, in August 1997. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
White House Targets The View's Joy Behar, Warns Daytime Talker Could Be ‘Next to Get Pulled Off the Air'
The White House — which was apparently watching The View in real time on Wednesday — fired off a statement attacking co-host Joy Behar and alluding to the long-running daytime talker being 'the next to be pulled off air.' Said missive comes less than a week after CBS announced that The Late Show With Stephen Colbert would be entering its farewell season, soon after Colbert said on-air that parent company Paramount's recent $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump was tantamount to 'a bribe.' (Paramount Global is waiting on Trump's FCC to approve a lonnnnng-in-the-works merger with Skydance Media.) More from TVLine Jon Stewart Rages Against Late Show With Stephen Colbert Cancellation, Declares: 'I'm Not Going Anywhere' Eileen Fulton, Who Played As the World Turns' Villainous Lisa Miller, Dead at 91 President Trump Celebrates Stephen Colbert's Cancellation: 'I Hear Jimmy Kimmel Is Next' With its statement (mailed to the White House was responding to a Wednesday bit that Behar did on Trump's apparent envy of former President Barack Obama. Trump this week circulated a fake, AI-generated video of Obama being arrested in the Oval Office for being, well, 'sedacious.' 'First of all, who tried to overthrow the government on Jan. 6?' Behar began, alluding to the 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. 'Let me think, who was that again…? That was not Obama. 'The thing about [Trump] is he's so jealous of Obama,' she continued, 'because Obama is everything that he is not. Trim. Smart. Handsome. Happily married…. And Trump cannot stand it. It's driving him crazy. Jealous is not–, green is not a good color.' The White House — an official institution of the United States federal government, I need to remind you — said in its very official statement that 'Joy Behar is an irrelevant loser suffering from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.' The White House also claimed that The View has in recent years 'hit the lowest ratings' — though in reality, the daytime talker is up 5% in audience year-over-year, and is enjoying its most-watched summer in four years. The statement also, and quite pointedly, said that Behar 'should self-reflect on her own jealousy of President Trump's historic popularity before her show is the next to be pulled off air.' The View is not commenting on the White House's statement. TVLine has reached out to the White House for a copy of the full statement. Following Behar's aforementioned bit on Wednesday's The View, fellow co-host Sunny Hostin jumped in to echo the sentiment, saying, 'Obama still lives rent-free in [Trump's] head, I think Michelle Obama still lives rent-free in his head, the fact that [daughter] Malia graduated from Harvard…. It's the very swagger that Obama has, that he will never have.' Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Is Paramount+ Sneak-Dissing ‘South Park' By Putting It in the ‘Cringeworthy' Category?
After weeks of public conflict and embarrassment, Paramount+ may retain the streaming rights to South Park after all, but there's nothing in the contract that says they can't stay pissy in the main menu. According to industry insiders, Paramount Global is in advanced negotiations with South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone over a settlement that would avoid a lawsuit between the parties and secure an extension to the lucrative overall South Park contract. After Parker and Stone publicly accused Paramount and its prospective new owners at Skydance Media of meddling in their negotiations with other streaming giants following the breakdown of the initial extension talks, the South Park creators seemed poised to go to war with Paramount and its partners on more fronts than just social media and strongly worded letters. Then, over the weekend, Hollywood insider Matthew Belloni reported that Paramount was making major strides toward settling the dispute with Parker and Stone out of court while securing the future of South Park on its home platform. At the same time, however, Paramount+ listed the entirety of its South Park offerings in the 'Cringeworthy Comedies' category, as one fan of the show pointed out in the South Park subreddit. Maybe Paramount+ is taking subtle shots at South Park after pulling the show from international streaming markets amidst the acrimonious contract dispute — or maybe they really can't get through South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut without wincing. Musicals aren't for everyone. Seriously, South Park has had some pain-inducing moments over its 26 seasons and counting — Cartman's 'red rocket' method in the Season Five episode 'Proper Condom Use' jumps out as especially hard-to-watch — but South Park is hardly cringeworthy comedy in the way that the term typically describes shows like The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm. A 'cringe comedy' is generally accepted to mean a series that uses social awkwardness and the accidental transgression of social norms as the foundation for the humor, not one that features shockingly graphic depictions of dog masturbation by a sociopathic child. Given the bad fit, the fact that every single South Park streaming special available on Paramount+ is headlining the cringeworthy comedy category is certainly suspicious. However, the simplest explanation is that the front-and-center placement is just the algorithmic consequence of subscriber streaming habits that no human being influenced on Paramount's end. Or, alternatively, Paramount is intentionally featuring South Park in an ill-fitting and possibly insulting category because it's trying to milk every view it can out of its South Park content, just in case negotiations fall through and they lose the rest of the South Park library forever. But while that would certainly be a pathetic explanation for the puzzling category classification, it would only be the second most cringeworthy milking scheme in South Park history. Get more Cracked directly to your inbox. Sign up for Cracked newsletters at Cracked News Letters Signup. Solve the daily Crossword
