Warner Bros. raises. Discovery sued Paramount over streaming fight in South Park

Warner Bros. raises. Discovery sues Paramount for allegedly ‘stolen’ South Park Content that it claims should have exclusive broadcast rights, As I mentioned earlier before diverse. in A lawsuit was filed on Fridayparent company HBO Max claims Paramount has worked with it South ParkMTV’s content creators and affiliate MTV “to turn in as much new as possible South Park content as possible” to Paramount Plus to drive viewers to the platform.

In 2019, Warner Bros. found out. She says she paid about $1.6 million For each of the more than 300 episodes of South Park Digital Studios (SPDS) – a joint venture between Paramount and South Park Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone – agreed to license. Warner Bros. claims Discovery that Paramount, which also owns Comedy Central, South ParkThe longtime home on cable TV, South Park Digital Studios was “induced” to break that contract with Warner Bros. Discovery.

The deal was supposed to bring the show’s entire library, plus upcoming 30 new episodes for Seasons 24, 25, and 26 to HBO Max through June 2025. However, Warner Bros. Discovery that you did not get what you paid for. It claims that South Park Digital Studios did not live up to its promise of 10 new episodes per season and charged the company extra for 50 minutes. own epidemic.

The lawsuit also has a problem with A huge $900 million deal Paramount Made with Creators South Park In August 2021 – just months after Paramount Plus launched. As part of the deal, South Park It will stream exclusively on Paramount Plus after the contract with HBO Max expires.

The studio has subsequently gone on to create several specials exclusive to Paramount Plus, including South Park: Post CovidAnd South Park: Post Covid: The Return of CovidAnd South Park: The Streaming Wars segment 1 And part 2, which will debut during 2021 and 2022. Warner Bros. Discovery said these specials should have been included in their contract, and that South Park Studios, Paramount, and MTV “used a grammatical sleight of hand, describing the new content as ‘movies’, ‘movies’, or ‘events’ for SPDS’s contractual obligations.”

In a statement to diverseA Paramount spokesperson said the company believes “these allegations are without merit” and alleges that Warner Bros. Discovery “failed and refused to pay the licensing fees it owes Paramount for episodes already delivered, which HBO Max continues to air.” Paramount did not immediately respond. the edgeComment request.

The lawsuit comes at a pivotal time for Warner Bros. Discovery, which reported adding just 1.1 million subscribers across HBO, HBO Max and Discovery Plus in the most recent quarter, while losing another $2.1 billion. He clearly sees South Park as a key component of HBO Max, calling the show’s “anchor” content “essential to branding and marketing” in the lawsuit, and says owning the series allows broadcasters to “increase subscribers and subscription fees, as well as attract advertisers.”

Warner Bros. sues. Discovery sued Paramount, SPDS, and MTV for “significant monetary damages” that would be determined at trial.