‘South Park’ Takes On Prediction Markets—And Traders Are Already Betting On It

Within the midst of a headline-grabbing season that’s taken purpose in any respect method of well timed and controversial topics, South Park has discovered its newest goal: prediction markets. 

The most recent episode of the hit animated collection, as a result of air Wednesday evening, will heart on prediction markets and their incessant reputation amongst younger folks, Comedy Central introduced earlier at present. 

The episode, titled “Battle of Curiosity,” will particularly heart on a rift that emerges between characters Cartman and Kyle when a well-liked prediction market app takes over their college.

Already, and maybe proving the purpose of the present’s creators, crypto-backed prediction markets have jumped on the chance to financialize the finer factors of tonight’s episode. 

One Myriad market at present has odds at 31.7% that the episode will point out an current prediction market—both Myriad itself, Polymarket, or Kalshi—by identify. Roughly $11,400 has been wagered on the guess as of this writing. (Disclaimer: Myriad is a product of Decrypt’s mother or father firm, DASTAN.)

On Polymarket, customers are wagering on the chance that different sure phrases are talked about within the present tonight, together with “predict” or “prediction” 10-plus occasions (71% odds), “Broncos” (49% odds), “Trump” three-plus occasions (45% odds) and “dildo” (55% odds).

Regardless of the connectivity between prediction markets and cryptocurrency—which fuels the backend of platforms like Polymarket and Myriad)—odds of South Park mentioning “crypto” or “Bitcoin” tonight at present stand at solely 31%. The market has up to now accrued solely $2,000 in quantity. 

Based mostly on photographs launched by Comedy Central earlier at present, tonight’s South Park episode will proceed to depict a fictional plotline involving President Donald Trump’s ongoing love affair with, and up to date impregnation of, Devil. 

Although South Park has lengthy embraced controversy in its 28-year run, its latest skewering of the Trump administration has obtained explicit consideration given latest tensions between the White Home and main broadcasters over freedom of speech.

Final week, ABC suspended late evening host Jimmy Kimmel’s present indefinitely after the top of Trump’s FTC threatened to revoke the community’s broadcasting license over feedback Kimmel made concerning the alleged killer of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. Kimmel’s present returned Tuesday night, although some regional stations refused to air it.

Paramount, which owns Comedy Central, additionally seems to be making strikes to keep away from political controversy. Days after Kirk’s killing, the studio opted to pull an episode of South Park from earlier this season that mocked the podcaster and his engagements on school campuses. 

Might South Park’s antics threat all the present being pulled off the air within the present political local weather? There’s a marketplace for that, too. Kalshi says the percentages sit at present at simply 7%.