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South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone will be sticking around at Comedy Central at least through 2019.



The cable channel has commissioned 30 more episodes that will bring South Park to a historic 23rd season.

This pick-up guarantees that South Park will at least reach 304 episodes, making it the longest-running scripted cable series in primetime.

A second aspect of this new pact guarantees that South Park's exclusive streaming deal with Hulu will include all 30 of the new episodes.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone celebrated the news by saying today (July 8): "We love working for [Viacom president Doug Herzog] and with everyone at Comedy Central.

"They've given us an insane level of artistic and creative freedom for almost 20 years. They walk the walk."

"Nearly two decades later, South Park today remains as important and influential as any series on any platform and has become one of the most recognisable brands to ever come out of television," Herzog added.

"Through South Park Digital Studios we will continue to aggressively expand the reach of the South Park brand by pursuing additional extensions and licensing opportunities worldwide."

Comedy Central's renewal comes as no surprise, given that Parker and Stone recently vowed to continue making South Park until it is cancelled.

South Park made its debut on the cable network back in 1997 as a half-hour adaptation of cartoon shorts made by the duo in the early 1990s.

The darkly comic animated series spawned a successful movie in 1999, and has earned five Primetime Emmy Awards.

Comedy Central airs South Park's season 29 premiere on Wednesday, September 16.