Though Jeopardy and Wheel Of Fortune could appear to be immovable TV establishments, the 2 sport exhibits might discover their schedules altering quickly due to an ongoing courtroom case between Sony and CBS. Wheel of Fortune started airing in 1975 and is presently coming into its fiftieth consecutive yr on the air. Jeopardy, created by the identical media mogul Merv Griffin, has been on the air even longer. The overall data sport present started airing in 1964 and is presently in its forty first season.
Though Jeopardy‘s manufacturing was quickly halted because of the California wildfires, this isn’t the one complication confronted by the 2 legendary quiz exhibits within the early weeks of 2025. CBS and Sony have been embroiled in an ongoing battle over the syndication rights to the 2 exhibits since October 2024. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Sony introduced plans to take over world distribution of each exhibits because the leisure large alleged that CBS had didn’t observe the phrases of their longstanding syndication settlement.
CBS & Sony Are In Dispute Over Distribution Rights For Jeopardy & Wheel of Fortune
Choose Kevin C Brazile Granted CBS A Short-term Restraining Order Towards Sony
This resulted in a courtroom case between CBS and Sony over Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Choose Kevin C Brazile ensured that CBS would stay residence to Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune for now by granting the community a brief restraining order. Nevertheless, this isn’t the tip of the litigation between the 2 events within the case. A press release from Sony famous that “The Court docket’s order has no bearing on, and isn’t indicative of, the eventual end result of the continuing litigation.’
The schedules of Jeopardy and Wheel Of Fortune should not but impacted, as they’re each nonetheless produced by Sony and distributed by CBS in the meanwhile.
Sony’s assertion clarified that the restraining order solely quickly stops the corporate from taking up the distribution of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. In distinction, a spokesperson for CBS was extra assured, saying “We’ll proceed to seamlessly distribute Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! to our station purchasers like we now have for over 40 years” and calling Sony’s makes an attempt to take over distribution “Illegal actions.” CBS is positioning Sony’s transfer as an unprecedented and unfair assault, whereas Sony depicts it as an inevitable response to what they allege is CBS’s deliberate mismanagement of the 2 exhibits.
Associated
The 15 Most Successful Jeopardy Champions Of All Time (& How Much They Won)
Jeopardy has handed out hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to contestants, however one of the best Jeopardy Champions ever have earned an unimaginable sum of money.
This case might ultimately end in Sony taking up distribution for the 2 sport exhibits, which can change when and the place they air. Alternatively, CBS could win and the present’s schedules may by no means be impacted by this courtroom case. Distribution rights relate to the place exhibits air after they air, and which advertisers assist them.
How CBS & Sony’s Case Impacts Jeopardy & Wheel Of Fortune’s Broadcasting Schedule
Jeopardy & Wheel Of Fortune’s Schedule Received’t Change (But)
As CBS acquired a brief restraining order, the published plan for Jeopardy and Wheel Of Fortune will stay intact for now. Each exhibits are among the many hottest and longest-running sport exhibits in American TV historical past, so it’s possible that Sony will proceed attempting to take over distribution rights till they both win in courtroom or obtain a extra everlasting resolution that ceases their efforts. The schedules of Jeopardy and Wheel Of Fortune should not but impacted, as they’re each nonetheless produced by Sony and distributed by CBS in the meanwhile.
Nevertheless, this may increasingly change because the courtroom case continues. To complicate issues considerably, spinoffs like Celebrity Jeopardy, Pop Tradition Jeopardy, and Jeopardy Masters air on networks aside from CBS, however are produced by Sony. Wheel of Fortune’s destiny isn’t difficult by related spinoffs, however it’s clear from the case that Sony is looking for distribution rights to each exhibits reasonably than just one franchise. This inevitably results in the query of why the sport exhibits are so extremely valued by each firms, which comes right down to their persistent reputation and their standing as dependable scores winners.
Why Jeopardy & Wheel Of Fortune’s Distribution Rights Are Extremely Contested
The Two Sport Reveals Are Amongst The Most Profitable Syndicated Sequence In America
Each Jeopardy and Wheel Of Fortune are among the many most profitable syndicated exhibits within the US, so it is sensible that neither Sony nor CBS is prepared to surrender with out a battle. Since CBS has dealt with distribution for each exhibits for many years, the corporate has established relationships with the channels that presently air the 2 sequence. Which means CBS sustaining distribution rights would more than likely end result within the schedules of the sport exhibits remaining the identical, however this isn’t essentially a assure. For his or her half, Sony claims that CBS has been “Egregiously undercutting the worth and profitability of those exhibits.”
It is perhaps dangerous to alter their scheduling, or it may very well be considered as a vital innovation to maintain them worthwhile.
This may very well be taken as affirmation that, if granted distribution rights on the conclusion of this lawsuit, Sony would change how, when, and where the long-running game shows air. Nevertheless, this isn’t a assure both. The choices that each firms will make sooner or later are robust to foretell as each exhibits are dependable hits, but in addition TV establishments. It is perhaps dangerous to alter their scheduling, or it may very well be considered as a vital innovation to maintain them worthwhile. Regardless of the end result, CBS and Sony’s battle over Jeopardy and Wheel Of Fortune is much from over.
Supply: The Hollywood Reporter
