Warner Bros Discovery has slapped Paramount Global with a scathing $200 million lawsuit over South Park streaming rights.
The lawsuit claims that back in 2019, Warner signed a contract paying more than $500m for the rights to the existing and newest episodes of the popular animated show, as reported by The Independent.
The claim stated that three years ago, HBO Max - a Warner streaming service - was meant to obtain the first episodes of a latest season of the TV show, but, the schedule was suspended due to the pandemic.
The company also alleges that South Park Digital Studios - which produces the show and is a defendant in the lawsuit - proposed two pandemic-themed specials. The filing notes that the episodes should've been offered to Warner under the initial contract.
The 24-page filing described the move as "grammatical sleight-of-hand," an "illicit conspiracy," and "verbal trickery" on the part of the Paramount, chief content officer Chris McCarthy, and South Park Digital Studios, per Deadline.
A spokesperson for Paramount has told the outlet that the claims "are without merit" and that they "look forward to demonstrating so through the legal process".
"We also note that Paramount continues to adhere to the parties' contract by delivering new South Park episodes to HBO Max, despite the fact that Warner Bros," the spokesperson continued.
"Discovery has failed and refused to pay license fees that it owes to Paramount for episodes that have already been delivered, and which HBO Max continues to stream," they added.
The creators of the popular franchise - Matt Stone and Trey Parker - were not named in the lawsuit.
Obtaining the streaming rights to South Park is a competitive procedure because the show has already attracted more subscribers, and advertisers and has a loyal fan base.
Mentioning that specific $200 million figure, the suit later says its seeking punitive damages and "an award to Warner/HBO equal to all damages incurred as a result of Defendants’ wrongful conduct, including but not limited to compensatory damages, consequential damages, and disgorgement of all profits," as cited by Deadline.
Warner claims the deal was a calculated move between Paramount, its associate MTV Entertainment Studios, and South Park Digital Studios to "divert as much of the new South Park content as possible to Paramount Plus in order to boost that nascent streaming platform," per The Independent.
The publication noted that the company allegedly paid $1,687,500 per episode and has apparently not yet received all episodes covered by the contract.
South Park recently divided viewers with its scathing mockery of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
