South Park will continue running for at least five more seasons, with Comedy Central extending the series' current contract for an additional three years through 2019, the network announced today.
Comedy Central's existing deal with South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, which was finalized in November 2011, ran through season 20 in 2016. Comedy Central has aired 254 episodes to date; the three new 10-episode seasons announced today will bring South Park above the 300-episode mark to 304. Parker and Stone will continue to write and direct every episode.
"South Park remains the bedrock of Comedy Central and we are thrilled that new episodes will continue to entertain audiences for years to come," said Michele Ganeless, president of Comedy Central, in a press release. "The series remains as urgent and relevant now as the day it premiered and at nearly 20 seasons in it continues to draw generations of new fans."
Viacom, Comedy Central's parent company, announced today a separate deal between Hulu and South Park Digital Studios — a joint venture with Stone, Parker and Viacom — that will keep Hulu as the exclusive streaming home of South Park. Hulu's current contract was announced a year ago, and the extension covers the three additional seasons announced today.
Hulu is paying South Park Digital Studios $192 million over five years for the rights, according to The Hollywood Reporter. That figure makes this the most expensive content deal in Hulu's history, beating the $160 million to $180 million that the streaming service reportedly paid for Seinfeld's entire run earlier this year. New episodes of South Park will go live on Hulu the day after they air on Comedy Central.
South Park is now the longest-running primetime scripted series in cable television history, according to Comedy Central. As for when the show might end, Parker and Stone said in an interview with IGN during E3 that they will keep going for as long as they can.
"We won't stop until we get canceled," Stone told IGN. "We're renewing. They have to fucking cancel us, goddammit!"
South Park's 19th season premieres Sept. 16.