Despite being rated M on television, the season 3 DVD set was the first season to receive an MA15+ rating. The latter seasons are rated MA15+, which is a rating restricted for people 15 years and older unless accompanied by adult, and is strong in impact. The M rating is unrestricted and moderate in impact, and it is equivalent to America's TV-14 rating. In Australia, the first three seasons and some episodes in season 4, were rated M: Recommended for mature audiences 15 years and over. Episodes from season 22-onwards, as well as particularly offensive episodes (i.e., Bloody Mary, Trapped in the Closet) still carries the TV-MA rating. However, starting in 2017, uncut airings of South Park on Comedy Central have been receiving a TV-14-DLSV rating, mainly from the first twenty seasons. To note, some episodes on syndication have been reclassified TV-14.
In the United States, South Park is mainly rated TV-MA: This program is specifically designed to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for children under 17 and may contain one or more of the following: crude indecent language (L), strong sexual content (S), or graphic violence (V).