"South Park" Creators To Take Show Online In $75 Million Multimedia Deal

New York Times:

Because of the slow entry into the digital realm of Viacom, Comedy Central's parent, and an almost crippling deal point in Mr. Stone's and Mr. Parker's contract, the lewd, rude, crudely animated and mordantly funny series -- one that began with a viral video before the term even existed -- has barely had a presence as an avalanche of user-generated entertainment hit the Web. Meanwhile, sites like YouTube met the demand for free "South Park" clips without paying for the privilege.

Now, however, Mr. Stone and Mr. Parker and their bosses at Comedy Central, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks, are attempting to leapfrog to the vanguard of Hollywood's transition into Web. In a joint venture that involves millions in up-front cash and a 50-50 split of ad revenues, the network and the two creative partners have agreed to create a hub to spread "South Park"-related material across the Net, mobile platforms, and video games.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

10:57 AM on 08/27/2007

Never liked South Park, regardless of whether it's on DVD, VHS, TV, or the Net. I don't hate it, but it's really smarmy for my tastes.

Loved the Tom Cruise episode, though. Hail, Xenu!

[PerryLogan]

06:29 AM on 08/27/2007

South Park: satire for people who can't read, done by people who can't draw.

[UncleJimbo]

06:52 AM on 08/27/2007

Perry your some kind of s snob! South Park,like all great "cartoons" works on two levels! The obvious,Kenny gets killed by a Space Station,and the part you do have to be somewhat educated and well read to understand,that it's the MIR Space Station (at the time when Russian space junk was falling to earth creating possible hazards! I could cite a million of these! See how it works now! Skrew you PerryLogan...Go Home and watch Family Guy! (which I rather like too!)

[FromWayDowntown]

04:03 AM on 08/27/2007

Screw you guys, I'm goin' home.

[LastDaysCafe]

03:34 AM on 08/27/2007

South Park creators should team up with director Quentin Tarantino - they both have the exact same unflushed,toilet bowl view of the world!

[neomonkey]

12:35 AM on 08/27/2007

So where's "That's My Bush?"

[godlessclif]

12:31 AM on 08/27/2007

I guess this means they want people to pay to see that stuff. The web is ending up just like TV. Just like rock music.
They started with such promise, and now it is just a way to squeeze money out of people. There was so much science and art on the web for free at first, now it is "sell out time".
Intellectual property is the social evil of the 21st century. Just like money was the root of all evil in the 20th century.

Once money allowed some people to become rich, and that was good. After the 19th century, it stopped everyone from being rich so some could be richer, and that is bad.

[Blah]

08:11 AM on 08/27/2007

Why should it be wrong for these guys to get paid for what they are creating? Why should it be wrong for a musician to get paid for the work that goes into writing and recording songs?

Do you work for free?

Don't get me wrong, I think there are plenty of things wrong with the entertainment industry, but I don't think it's fair to expect these people to work for free.

[MetalCanuck]

09:52 AM on 08/27/2007

You are right on the money, I think they should get paid but I think it should be free for people to watch.

[stonesfan30]

11:51 PM on 08/26/2007

Awesome! I love these guys. I have a disease. I need another beer.