Sony Escalates ‘Jeopardy!’-‘Wheel of Fortune’ Beef With CBS
- Sony is taking over distribution of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune from CBS, ending a 40-year agreement between the two companies.
Sony is ramping up its dispute with CBS over the syndicated game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune .
In a letter sent to CBS on Monday, Sony Pictures Television says it has taken over distribution of the two shows — which would mark an end to a more than 40-year agreement between the two companies that has seen CBS' syndication arm handle distribution. Sony is also seeking to file an amended complaint in its October 2024 lawsuit against CBS that alleges the latter has breached its contract in the United States and entered into unauthorized syndication deals for Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune in other countries.
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CBS countersued Sony in November, claiming Sony was using the courts to get out of the two companies' long-standing contract: "Sony is attempting to obtain in court what it could not get at the bargaining table: the rights to the Series for free, by finding any excuse it can muster," the cross-complaint reads. With Sony's action to take over distribution, CBS now says it will file a temporary restraining order to keep the current distribution deal in place while the dueling lawsuits make their way through the courts.
Sony's Monday letter to CBS states in part, "Please be advised that in light of the failures of CBS Studios Inc. ('CBS') to live up to its contractual obligations, Sony Pictures Television Inc., Califon Productions, Inc., and Jeopardy Productions, Inc (collectively, 'Sony Pictures') have assumed global distribution functions for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! … including, but not limited to, content delivery, advertising sales, marketing, promotions, show integrations, affiliate relations, public relations, domestic and foreign licensing, and foreign format licensing."
Sony says it delivered the episodes of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune scheduled to air this week to CBS on Jan. 27 but that it has taken over sending those to local stations that air the game shows, beginning with episodes set for the week of Feb. 10. The letter also asks CBS to turn over documents related to domestic and foreign licensing and ad sales.
CBS sent a message to clients that air Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune on Monday that reads, "We are aware Sony has informed you that it has purported to assume the distribution functions for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! , and that it has terminated CBS's distribution arrangement. This communication is false, inappropriate, and ineffective. Sony has no rights under the distribution agreements to terminate them, and CBS remains the distributor for the Series, notwithstanding any communications from Sony to the contrary. Any contention by Sony that it has reclaimed the distribution rights is subject to ongoing judicial proceedings, and CBS will be seeking immediate relief from the appropriate courts. All business should continue in the usual course."
In its amended complaint at Los Angeles Superior Court, Sony adds new allegations that CBS licensed streaming rights it doesn't own to the two shows, then collected fees for those deals. It also expands a section related to CBS parent Paramount Global's decision to end its contract with ratings provider Nielsen.
Feb. 3, 10:20 a.m.Updated with CBS response to Sony.
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