All the latest news from the global content industry on Thursday, 24 July

 

South Park heads to Paramount+ globally

Paramount Global has struck a deal with South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone that will see the show becoming available on Paramount+ in the US and around the world.

The hit animation made headlines last week after disappearing from screens outside of the US, but a new five-year pact will see 50 new episodes being made and the show available again globally.

For the first time, Paramount+ will become the US home for the South Park library and all new episodes (it had been on HBO Max), kicking off with the new season debuting on Comedy Central today and Paramount+ today.

The deal was agreed by Paramount Global and producers Park County and South Park Digital Studios.

 

Owen Wilson’s Stick goes on another round

Apple TV+ has ordered a second season of Owen Wilson’s golf comedy, Stick.

The show was created by Jason Keller and produced by Apple Studios. Keller is showrunner and exec producer, alongside Wilson, Propagate Content’s Ben Silverman, and Guymon Casady of Entertainment 360.

News of the extension came as the streamer dropped its final episode of the show’s first season yesterday.

 

Cineflix Rights unveils Iberian deals

Spain’s Movistar+ has acquired Vikings: The Empire of the North Sea and Alexander the Great: Legendary Conqueror from from Cineflix Rights.

Vikings: The Empire of the North Sea (6x60’, Pernel Media for Planète+ & C8, France, and TV5 Quebec, Canada chronicles the rise and fall of history’s first-and-only Viking empire, while Legendary Conqueror (3x60’, Pernel Media for Planète+ & C8, France, and TV5 Quebec, Canada) showcases the exploits of one of history’s greatest military leaders.

Elsewhere, Dmax Spain has taken Vanished History from Shark Teeth Films along with Mediaset Italy, which has also acquired Legendary Conqueror.

Other deals include SIC Portugal buying Building Bad, AMC Multicanal Iberia picking up Sue Perkins into Alaska, and Rai in Italy taking Impossible Planet.

 

BBC to broadcast MasterChef

The BBC is to broadcast the latest series of MasterChef after its presenters were sacked, saying it is the “right thing to do” for the amateur chefs.

The fate of Shine TV’s already shot show had been uncertain for weeks, after hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode were both sacked after a Banijay-commissioned report substantiated more than 40 allegations of inappropriate behaviour against the former and an allegation that Torode used racist language. Broadcast understands that there will be a light edit of the show in light of the allegations. 

A BBC spokesperson said the decision was made “after careful consideration and consultation with the contestants”.

“This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances, and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it.” Read more