"South Park" Renewed Through Season 20! Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone Agree to Keep the Iconic Series in Original Episodes Through 2016

NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Trey Parker and Matt Stone have reached a new deal with COMEDY CENTRAL to extend cable's longest-running animated series, "South Park," it was announced today by Michele Ganeless, president, COMEDY CENTRAL.  The deal for three additional seasons ensures the top-rated Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning series will remain in original episodes through 2016 and a milestone 20th season.  Parker and Stone will continue to write, direct and edit every episode of "South Park," as they have since the premiere of the series in 1997.

"The collective genius of Matt and Trey knows no bounds," said Ganeless.  "Week after week and season after season they continue to surprise and delight 'South Park' fans, and that includes all of us here at COMEDY CENTRAL.  We're thrilled that the adventures of Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman will continue through 2016."

"COMEDY CENTRAL has been our home for 15 years and we love working there," said Parker and Stone.  "'South Park' is a blast and we can't wait to make more."

Recently voted "The Greatest Animated TV Series" in a poll conducted by Entertainment Weekly, "South Park," which wraps its 15th season tonight, averaged over 3.5 million viewers per episode during its most recent season (most current data), in which it was the #1 show in all of television among Men 18-24 in Wednesday Prime and the #1 show in cable among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, Adults 18-24, Men 18-34 and Men 18-24 in Wednesday Prime.  The series has also accumulated 35 million fans on Facebook, making it the most-liked series in cable and the #3 series in all of television.

"South Park" launched on August 13, 1997 and premiered its 15th season on April 27, 2011. Co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are executive producers, along with Anne Garefino, of the Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning "South Park."  Frank C. Agnone II is the supervising producer.  Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell and Vernon Chatman are producers.  "South Park's" Web site is www.southparkstudios.com.  The series airs Wednesday nights at 10:00 p.m. and repeats later that night at midnight (all times ET/PT).

The agreement with COMEDY CENTRAL was negotiated for Parker and Stone by their attorney Kevin Morris of Morris, Yorn.  They are also represented by WME.

Available in 99 million homes nationwide, COMEDY CENTRAL (www.comedycentral.com), the only all-comedy network, is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B).  For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit COMEDY CENTRAL's press web site at www.comedycentral.com/press and follow us on Twitter @ComedyCentralPR for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

Viacom is home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms in more than 160 countries and territories.  With approximately 170 media networks reaching more than 600 million global subscribers, Viacom's leading brands include MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV Land, Spike TV and Tr3s.  Paramount Pictures, America's oldest film studio and creator of many of the most beloved motion pictures, continues today as a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.  Viacom operates a large portfolio of branded digital media experiences, including many of the world's most popular properties for entertainment, community and casual online gaming.  For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com.

SOURCE COMEDY CENTRAL Corporate Communications