Hang on to your hats, folks: Eric Cartman isn't going anywhere. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are reportedly nearing a groundbreaking deal for the show's streaming rights, following drawn-out negotiations sparked by the Paramount-Skydance merger.

As reported by The Los Angeles Times, Paramount reached an agreement on July 21 to secure the streaming rights for South Park, adding the series to the Paramount+ library. While not yet finalized, the deal—which commits Parker and Stone's Park County Productions to produce 10 new episodes annually—is valued at an astounding $300 million per year and is widely expected to be approved.

Spanning five years, the contract would bring the streaming service over $1.5 billion in total, cementing South Park as one of television's most valuable franchises. It's a fitting status for a show that exploded onto the scene in 1999 and grew into a global phenomenon, spawning countless specials, a feature film, video games, and vast merchandise lines.

However, the show's future recently seemed uncertain. HBO Max's previous streaming rights expired in June, leaving the series in limbo. Parker and Stone expressed frustration over the ensuing battle for streaming rights and how the Paramount-Skydance merger disrupted production. Since February 2023, the show has aired only six regular episodes and three specials.

When Paramount postponed the Season 27 premiere from July 9 to July 23, the creative team took to social media with a blunt statement: "In response to the press release from Comedy Central about the change in premiere date for South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone said: 'This merger is a s**tshow and it’s f**king up South Park.' We are at the studio working on new episodes and we hope the fans get to see them somehow." This message followed the network's announcement on July 2.

Fortunately, it appears Parker and Stone are close to finding some creative stability—or at least, what passes for stability in the chaotic world of South Park.