Judge sides with Sony in ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and ‘Jeopardy!’ fight with CBS
On Thursday, a judge in Los Angeles ruled that Sony Pictures Television is legally allowed to assume control over the distribution of their popular game shows “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune,” previously handled by long-standing partner CBS. This decision marks a significant setback for the television network.
In August, Sony ended its distribution agreement with CBS, followed by filing a lawsuit alleging breach of contract. The complaint stated that CBS, owned by Paramount Global, had illegally licensed shows without authorization, then charged itself a commission.
In addition to the lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, it was claimed that CBS had been issuing their shows at prices lower than the market average, and furthermore, they allegedly neglected opportunities to increase advertising income.
In his ruling, Judge Kevin Brazile stated that it was within Sony’s decision to end their distribution contracts, as per his understanding of the situation. This decision denied CBS’ request for a temporary order that could have prevented Sony from acting.
For several years, CBS has been responsible for disseminating both “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune,” which belong to Sony and are filmed on their Culver City studio lot. Despite a drop in traditional TV viewership due to the rise of streaming services, these daily game shows have persisted and remain among the most popular television programs.
CBS plans to appeal the ruling. The company said that the contract with Sony is not dead yet.
Hollywood Inc.
Finding a replacement for the game show host isn’t a simple task. However, the ratings for ‘Wheel of Fortune’ have increased following Pat Sajak’s departure.
As a movie critic, I’d rephrase it like this: “In a recent statement, I, representing CBS, acknowledged that the current decision is merely preliminary, based on incomplete evidence, not the final verdict of the case. However, we remain optimistic that once all the facts are presented at trial, our strong arguments will lead to a favorable outcome. Notably, the court has already indicated a tilt towards CBS regarding the potential harm, so we plan to request a stay from the appellate court until our appeal is heard.
According to CBS, Sony’s objections stem from their disapproval of the agreement the parties made decades ago, which they apparently find unacceptable.
CBS receives approximately 40% of the fees paid by television stations for airing their programs, a practice they began after acquiring the syndication company King World Productions in 1999 and taking over its distribution responsibilities.
In the 1980s, King World entered into partnerships with the original creator, Merv Griffin Enterprises, for the distribution of “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune”. Even after Sony purchased Griffin’s company, these initial deals still stand.
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2025-04-11 01:01