South Park HBO Max viewers, take note: after five years on Warner Bros. Discovery’s flagship streaming service, every episode of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s irreverent animated hit will leave HBO Max on August 5, 2025. This marks a major shift for one of television’s most controversial and enduring comedies, following an exclusive multi-billion dollar streaming deal between its creators and Paramount Global.
As of this week, HBO Max subscribers have just days left to stream all 26 seasons of South Park before the show becomes available only through Paramount+. Newly released season 27, which premiered July 23, is already streaming exclusively on Paramount+ while continuing its original weekly broadcast on Comedy Central. The move follows a closely watched legal dispute and comes in the wake of Parker and Stone’s newly minted $1.5 billion deal with Paramount, guaranteeing the show’s future for at least five more years and spanning 50 fresh episodes.
Key Developments at a Glance
- August 5, 2025: All 26 past seasons exit HBO Max.
- Paramount+ secures exclusive streaming rights to every episode, old and new.
- Season 27 premieres on Comedy Central and Paramount+ in July 2025, with weekly releases continuing.
- $1.5 billion deal: Parker and Stone commit to 50 new episodes over five years for Paramount.
Why Is South Park Leaving HBO Max?
This transition ends a five-year run for South Park on HBO Max. Initially, Warner Bros. Discovery licensed the show for its streaming launch, but legal battles soon erupted as the show’s creators inked fresh deals with Paramount, promising high-profile specials and seasons for that company’s rival service. After back-and-forth lawsuits and much fan speculation, the dust finally settled: Paramount+ is now the program’s exclusive streaming home in the United States and several other key markets.
For Fans: What Changes on August 5?
- HBO Max: Loses all episodes of South Park.
- Paramount+: Gains exclusive access to all 26 prior seasons, all new specials, and current Season 27 episodes.
- Comedy Central: Continues to premiere new episodes weekly on Wednesdays; Paramount+ adds them the next day.
| Platform | Content | Availability After Aug. 5, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| HBO Max | Seasons 1-26 | No |
| Paramount+ | Seasons 1-27+ | Yes |
| Comedy Central | Season 27 (airing) | Yes (on cable) |
Behind the Scenes: Deals and Drama
South Park’s legal and business wrangling made headlines. The show’s creators at Park County Productions negotiated with both Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount for streaming rights. Paramount ultimately prevailed, securing a five-year exclusive contract. Season 27’s launch drew nearly 6 million viewers across platforms in its first three days, partly driven by buzz around its satirical take on Donald Trump and current events.
For the first time since the pandemic-era specials, fans have a regular slate of 10 new episodes to anticipate. Paramount+ subscribers can stream new installments each Thursday, following Wednesday cable airings on Comedy Central. And with Parker and Stone locked in for at least 50 more episodes, South Park’s run is far from over.
Viewer Reactions and Paramount+ Experience
Some fans on social platforms expressed disappointment with the loss of ad-free binge-watching on HBO Max, while others voiced frustration with Paramount+’s interface and ad tiers. Still, the move is seen as a strategic coup for Paramount, which needed a breakout streaming success after the end of Yellowstone in 2024.
What’s Next for South Park?
- Fresh episodes now roll out each week throughout 2025, blending edgy satire with topical news.
- Paramount+ becomes the definitive home for bingeing, with all specials and upcoming seasons set to drop exclusively.
- The current arrangement runs through 2030, with further expansions possible pending future deals.
As one era ends and another begins, South Park remains as lively—and as headline-provoking—as ever. If you’re one of the millions who fell in love with the show on HBO Max, don’t miss your last chance to watch before the library moves. And if you’re following Cartman, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny’s latest adventures, Paramount+ is now your only streaming destination.
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