Starting early next years, fans of the show will be able to watch any epsiode from the series online for free.MTV Networks plans to make every clip from every episode of the hit animated comedy "South Park" available for free online next year as part of a strategy to reach consumers everywhere. The decision follows on the heels of MTV Networks' previous decision to put Comedy Central's Jon Stewart "Daily Show" archive online back in September. In August, Comedy Central signed an extension of a deal with "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and agreed to create a new joint venture to spread "South Park" materials across the Web, on mobile phones and video games. So far, the venture, SouthParkStudios.com, features a small collection of video clips from the show. Other shows from the 20-year archives of MTV Networks could also get the same online treatment, but executives stopped short of naming other properties. "Clearly across MTV and VH1, we have two decades of all kinds of things from music and popular culture," McGrath said, responding to a question about what else could be offered. "'The Daily Show' was the first out of the gate and it's been a big success and it's a nice little model for us to follow," said Mika Salmi, MTV Networks president of global digital media. "There's no limit to which shows we can use at this stage." Once criticized for moving slowly to establish itself online, MTV Networks has aggressively expanded its digital media presence over the past year by building new Web sites and communities on the Internet and over cellphones globally. Executives said its television content has drawn visitors to its digital properties, such as virtual world Nicktropolis and ComedyCentral.com. But new features that let viewers grab online videos to install on a viewer's own Web page, and other tools to swap messages with content creators or other viewers, have convinced viewers to stay. For "South Park" fans this is truly welcome news, and hints that broadcast TV networks are finally starting to realize that internet users, many who border on a downright addiction to the medium, are a captive audience who are often overlooked. With many having few or little options to watch certain TV content due in part to restrictions of time, location, or availability, broadcasters can reach viewers 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, anywhere in the world. Looking for more stuff to watch or download?
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mtv is viacom.
looks like maybe a merger joined comedy centeral and viacom?
the old episodes are syndicated or licensed out to viacom (so look for them to show on vh1 too)?