SBS stops airing South Park in Australia after 23 years

‘We’re letting it go’: SBS stops airing South Park after broadcasting the controversial series for 23 years

SBS has decided to stop airing South Park after broadcasting the controversial cartoon for the last 23 years.

The public broadcaster now wants to focus on original content on SBS Viceland rather than licensing the American adult animated sitcom. 

When the series began in 1997, commercial networks Seven, Nine and 10 rejected the edgy program but SBS made the bold decision to air it.

‘We’re letting it go’: SBS has decided to stop airing South Park after broadcasting the controversial cartoon for the last 23 years

‘After 23 years, SBS made the decision to let South Park go, mmkay,’ an SBS spokesman said, referencing the catchphrase of South Park character Mr Mackey.  

‘The edgy, irreverent and often controversial series broke new ground when SBS premiered the cult phenomenon in the late nineties, opening Australian audiences up to a type of humour we’d never experienced before.

‘We look forward to breaking new ground with some original content propositions for SBS Viceland.’

Moving on: An SBS spokesman said they want to 'break new ground' with 'original content propositions for SBS Viceland'. Pictured: a comedy skit on The Feed on SBS Viceland

Moving on: An SBS spokesman said they want to ‘break new ground’ with ‘original content propositions for SBS Viceland’. Pictured: a comedy skit on The Feed on SBS Viceland

Former SBS commissioning editor Mark Atkin bought the Australian broadcasting rights to South Park back in the late ’90s. 

‘Comedy Central couldn’t get meetings with 10, with Seven, nobody would return their calls. It’s not like a lot of people were putting their hands up,’ he told SBS.

SBS went on to secure the rights to the second season of South Park, which is when the show began to skyrocket in popularity Down Under.

‘After that when all the other networks started knocking and they could have sold the program on to someone else, probably for more money, they decided to stick with SBS because we’d worked with them when nobody else would take their calls,’ Mr Atkin said. 

Bold decision: South Park was rejected by commercial networks in the late '90s, but SBS accepted the show. Pictured: South Park's main characters Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny

Bold decision: South Park was rejected by commercial networks in the late ’90s, but SBS accepted the show. Pictured: South Park’s main characters Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny

‘Everybody was talking about it and all these people who had never watched SBS before started tuning in, and through that finding out what else was on the network.’ 

Given the controversial nature of the show, Mr Atkin said they did receive some complaints but nothing sufficient to warrant pulling it from the air.

South Park season 23 will premiere in the U.S. on September 30, but it is not known where or when it will premiere in Australia.

Loyal: South Park season 23 will premiere in the U.S. on September 30, but it is not known where or when it will premiere in Australia

Loyal: South Park season 23 will premiere in the U.S. on September 30, but it is not known where or when it will premiere in Australia