• The New York Times, Monday, August 27, 2007 11:03 AM

What's the problem with successful television programming today? "South Park" creator Matt Stone says: "If I'm overseas and have to get an episode right away, you have to go to an illegal download site." Comedy Central parent Viacom is much slower to the draw than fans in uploading clips of the show.

It's an irony that a cartoon series that started out as a viral phenomenon before almost any existed has had its presence reduced by the parent company. It's also why an interactive distribution plan was made part of a new four-year contract for Stone and co-founder Trey Parker, signed last Friday, and believed to be worth some $75 million.

"South Park"-related material will now be spread across the Web, mobile platforms, even video games. It will also be more accessible to its fans, as a new incubator called SouthParkStudios.com has been created to encourage the development of "South Park" applications, new series and spec screenplays. Stone and Parker will split ad revenues 50-50 with Viacom.

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