Latest news with #US1.5
ABC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
South Park airs naked Trump parody as parent company Paramount merges with Skydance
Just hours after Paramount had agreed to buy the global streaming rights for South Park in a five-year deal worth $US1.5 billion ($2.27 billion), the notoriously controversial TV show kicked off its 27th season with an episode taking aim at Donald Trump. The episode also came as its parent company, Paramount, saw its multi-billion-dollar merger with entertainment company Skydance reach government approval. Federal regulators on Thursday approved Paramount's $US8 billion ($12.15 billion) merger, after months of turmoil revolving around Mr Trump's legal battle with 60 Minutes, the crown jewel of Paramount-owned broadcast network CBS. The Trump administration had been rumoured to block the hard-fought deal with Skydance, until Paramount earlier this month agreed to pay a $US16 million ($24 million) settlement with the president. Critics of the settlement lambasted it as a veiled bribe to appease Mr Trump, amid rising alarm over editorial independence overall. Further outrage also emerged after CBS said it was cancelling Stephen Colbert's Late Show just days after the comedian sharply criticised the parent company's settlement on air. Paramount cited financial reasons, but big names both within and outside the company have questioned those motives. In a statement accompanying the deal's approval, FCC chairman Brendan Carr hailed the merger as an opportunity to bring more balance to "once-storied" CBS. In a no-holds-barred season premiere, South Park shows the foul-mouthed Cartman appalled that NPR has been taken off the air by Mr Trump while Randy, a parent, is disturbed by the presence of Jesus in public elementary school. Complaints to the fictional White House receive only a threat from Mr Trump to sue the mountain town of South Park for billions of dollars. The episode also sees the US president begging Satan for sex and threatening to bomb Canada. The season opener also departs from its bare-bones animation to feature an AI-generated short of an overweight Mr Trump staggering through the desert. The short ends with a naked Mr Trump as the narrator says: "Trump. His penis is teeny-tiny, but his love for us is large." Predictably, the White House was not amused. "This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention," spokesperson Taylor Rogers said. "President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history — and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak." The adult animated series, which frequently touches on hot-button issues in American life, is now in its 27th season. AP/AFP
Courier-Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
South Park creators reach whopping $2.3 billion streaming deal with Paramount+
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have reached a five-year agreement with Paramount to stream the show on its Paramount+ service – and the deal is reportedly worth more than a billion dollars. According to the LA Times, the streamer will house the fan-favourite animation for $US300 million ($460 million) per year for five years, earning Park County – Parker and Stone's company – a total of $US1.5 billion ($2.3 billion). The whopping amount maintains the satirical cartoon's status as one of the world's most valuable TV franchises of all time. South Park creators Trey Parker (left) and Matt Stone have negotiated a deal to house the series on Paramount+ for five years, worth $460 million per year. Picture:As part of the deal, which is still being finalised, Park County agreed to produce 10 new episodes of South Park a year, giving fans of the long-running Comedy Central series plenty to look forward to beyond Season 27, which premieres this week. The premiere date had already been delayed for two weeks as the licensing-deal negotiations were complicated by Paramount's pending sale to US media company Skydance. The LA Times reports that South Park creators were looking for a decade-long deal for the show, but Skydance – the company that will merge with Paramount – did not favour this option. Earlier this month, Parker and Stone expressed their frustrations over the licensing battle, saying in a statement that it was damaging their series. A per the deal, there will be 10 new episodes of South Park per year, so expect to see more antics from Kenny, Cartman, Stan and Kyle. 'This merger is a sh**show and it's f***ing up South Park,' they wrote in a statement posted on X. 'We are at the studio working on new episodes, and we hope the fans get to see them somehow.' According to The Hollywood Reporter, in June the duo also threatened legal action against incoming Paramount president Jeff Shell for allegedly interfering in contract negotiations with potential streamers, such as Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix. South Park first debuted on 1997 and has since released more than 300 episodes But the high-stakes negotiations were soon back on track, with Paramount agreeing to a five-year term rather than a 10-year deal proposed by Parker and Stone. Skydance signed off on the transaction. In addition, Parker and Stone are in talks to renew their previous $US900 million ($1.3 billion) deal to keep the show on US cable channel Comedy Central through to 2027. South Park first debuted on 1997 and has since released more than 300 episodes. The series has also won a slew of awards, including five Emmys for Outstanding Animated Program. Originally published as South Park creators reach whopping $2.3 billion streaming deal
Sydney Morning Herald
05-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Celebrities are putting the ‘A-list' in capitalist like never before
Celebrities are venturing beyond the billboard and the big screen – and into big business. Hailey Bieber, a model married to Justin, recently sold Rhode, her make-up brand, in a deal valued at as much as $US1 billion ($1.5 billion). Skims, a shapewear label founded by Kim Kardashian, a reality-TV star, makes $US1 billion in annual sales and is expected to list on the stockmarket soon. Rihanna is now a billionaire not directly because of her music, but thanks to Fenty Beauty, her make-up label. Ryan Reynolds, a Hollywood actor, is active in everything from telecoms to online privacy. Surprisingly, many of these superstar businesses have become a source of innovative new consumer products. Celebrities have long used their fame to peddle things. Michael Jordan, a basketball player, is thought to have made over $US1.5 billion ($2.3 billion) from his partnership with Nike over the past 40 years. Nespresso has reportedly paid George Clooney more than $US40 million ($61 million) to have his mug selling its coffee. Two decades ago Hulk Hogan, a professional wrestler, helped market the 'Hulkster' cheeseburger, pre-cooked and frozen for your convenience. The practice continues. This week President Donald Trump launched 'Victory 45-47″, a line of fragrances for men and women priced at $US249 ($379), having launched 'Fight Fight Fight' ($US199, $303) last year. By contrast, the new superstar brands put the A-list into capitalist. Ms Bieber and co are involved in operations and hold equity stakes of varying sizes in the underlying businesses. Many celebs have begun to rethink the value of traditional endorsement and licensing deals. Social media now give them a line straight to their fans. Direct-to-consumer distribution, meanwhile, has made getting a product to market easier than ever. Given that the real money is in building and owning a brand, rather than advertising, why not launch one instead? This thinking in turn is altering the life-cycle of consumer goods. Just as pharmaceutical giants acquire biotech startups to refresh their drug pipelines, so consumer giants are buying up the most successful celebrity brands. The match makes sense. The hardest part of building a brand is the first 100,000 sales, but the A-list has a fan base that is well-disposed towards them and their wares. Once a celebrity brand gets off the ground, a consumer giant has the production and distribution networks to help it grow. Loading Hence the series of deals. Among the first was Apple's acquisition of Beats Electronics, a headphones and streaming business co-founded by Dr Dre, a music producer. Many were shocked when the tech giant, which prides itself on in-house research and design, paid around $US3 billion ($4.5 billion) for the brand in 2014. More recently Diageo, a drinksmaker, has bought a tequila firm co-owned by Mr Clooney, in a deal valued at around $US1 billion, and a gin distiller partly owned by Mr Reynolds, for up to $US610 million ($928 million).
The Age
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Celebrities are putting the ‘A-list' in capitalist like never before
Celebrities are venturing beyond the billboard and the big screen – and into big business. Hailey Bieber, a model married to Justin, recently sold Rhode, her make-up brand, in a deal valued at as much as $US1 billion ($1.5 billion). Skims, a shapewear label founded by Kim Kardashian, a reality-TV star, makes $US1 billion in annual sales and is expected to list on the stockmarket soon. Rihanna is now a billionaire not directly because of her music, but thanks to Fenty Beauty, her make-up label. Ryan Reynolds, a Hollywood actor, is active in everything from telecoms to online privacy. Surprisingly, many of these superstar businesses have become a source of innovative new consumer products. Celebrities have long used their fame to peddle things. Michael Jordan, a basketball player, is thought to have made over $US1.5 billion ($2.3 billion) from his partnership with Nike over the past 40 years. Nespresso has reportedly paid George Clooney more than $US40 million ($61 million) to have his mug selling its coffee. Two decades ago Hulk Hogan, a professional wrestler, helped market the 'Hulkster' cheeseburger, pre-cooked and frozen for your convenience. The practice continues. This week President Donald Trump launched 'Victory 45-47″, a line of fragrances for men and women priced at $US249 ($379), having launched 'Fight Fight Fight' ($US199, $303) last year. By contrast, the new superstar brands put the A-list into capitalist. Ms Bieber and co are involved in operations and hold equity stakes of varying sizes in the underlying businesses. Many celebs have begun to rethink the value of traditional endorsement and licensing deals. Social media now give them a line straight to their fans. Direct-to-consumer distribution, meanwhile, has made getting a product to market easier than ever. Given that the real money is in building and owning a brand, rather than advertising, why not launch one instead? This thinking in turn is altering the life-cycle of consumer goods. Just as pharmaceutical giants acquire biotech startups to refresh their drug pipelines, so consumer giants are buying up the most successful celebrity brands. The match makes sense. The hardest part of building a brand is the first 100,000 sales, but the A-list has a fan base that is well-disposed towards them and their wares. Once a celebrity brand gets off the ground, a consumer giant has the production and distribution networks to help it grow. Loading Hence the series of deals. Among the first was Apple's acquisition of Beats Electronics, a headphones and streaming business co-founded by Dr Dre, a music producer. Many were shocked when the tech giant, which prides itself on in-house research and design, paid around $US3 billion ($4.5 billion) for the brand in 2014. More recently Diageo, a drinksmaker, has bought a tequila firm co-owned by Mr Clooney, in a deal valued at around $US1 billion, and a gin distiller partly owned by Mr Reynolds, for up to $US610 million ($928 million).
The Age
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Trump family unveils gold ‘Made in America' phone, mobile service
The Trump family is licensing its name to a new mobile phone service, the latest in a string of ventures announced while Donald Trump is in the White House despite ethical concerns that the US president could mould public policy for personal gain. Eric Trump, the president's son running The Trump Organisation in his absence, announced a new venture called Trump Mobile. The plan is to sell phones that will be built in the US, and the phone service will maintain a call centre in the country as well. The announcement of the new mobile phone and service, called T1 Mobile, follows several real estate deals for towers and resorts in the Middle East, including a golf development in Qatar announced in April. A $US1.5 billion ($2.3 billion) partnership to build golf courses, hotels and real estate projects in Vietnam was approved last month, though the deal was in the works before Trump was elected. Even oversight of such a company, with the Trump name attached, raises ethical concerns. Trump has already used the federal government to reward his allies and punish his enemies. The Federal Communications Commission, the primary regulatory body overseeing mobile phone companies, has already launched investigations of media outlets Trump dislikes and, in some cases, is personally suing. Loading Eric Trump said Monday that consumers deserve a phone that aligns with their values. 'Hard-working Americans deserve a wireless service that's affordable, reflects their values, and delivers reliable quality they can count on,' he said in a statement. The company would also enter a highly competitive market that includes companies that have been directly attacked by Donald Trump.
