Comedy Central orders three more seasons of 'South Park'

NEW YORK, July 8 (UPI) -- South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have reached a new deal with Comedy Central to extend the edgy, animated series by three seasons and 30 episodes.

The pact means the team will continue to write, direct, produce and edit original episodes through 2019, the cable network's president, Michele Ganeless, announced Wednesday.

The show, which premiered in 1997, is the longest-running, primetime, scripted series in cable-television history.

Season 19 is to premiere Sept. 16.