Hulu lands multi-year South Park deal

Hulu has dealt a blow to streaming service rivals Netflix and Amazon by acquiring exclusive rights to Comedy Central’s acerbic comedy South Park.

The three-year agreement will see the US platform take VOD exclusivity for the show’s library and forthcoming episodes.

All 17 seasons of the American culture satire will be available for free until season 18’s debut on September 24, after which the library will be offered to subscribers of Hulu Plus. New episodes will follow the day after the TV premieres on both Hulu and Hulu Plus.

Once season 18 launches, Comedy Central will stop offering the entire South Park library, and shows select episodes of a revolving basis, with video and advertising powered by Hulu.

South Park is already a top-ten rating show on Hulu, according to the platform’s chief content officer Craig Erwich, the former Warner Horizon Television boss who joined in April.

Hulu has been seeking more exclusive premium VOD content since former Fox exec Mike Hopkins took the CEO job last year. It is already the exclusive US home of FX series including The Bridge and Bravo Media franchises including the Real Housewives… franchise.

The platform has also renewed Latino-themed teen drama East Los High for a third season.