Jeopardy!andWheel of Fortunemay be two of the most beloved, long-standing game shows out there, but things have taken a turn for the series' security in recent months. In the past,CBS has handled the distribution of both shows while Sony handled their production. In October 2024, Sony sued CBS for breach of contract after they claimed that bundling the game shows with less popular work likeThe Drew Barrymore ShoworHot Benchwere harmingJeopardy!andWheel of Fortune’s profitability.
CBS countersued the following month, but the issues did not stop there. This year,Sony attempted to take over the global distribution of both television programsafter they alleged that CBS had violated part of their agreement. This would change over distribution rights for bothJeopardy!andWheel of Fortuneafter years.CBS ended up filing a restraining orderin an attempt to keep distribution rights in the company. A Los Angeles judge ruled in their favor, warding Sony off from distribution rights and keeping them in CBS' hands.
Jeopardy! & Wheel Of Fortune’s Streaming Rights Are Now For Sale
CBS Is Not Happy
In a new turn in thisSony and CBS legal battle,Sony is now trying to sell the streaming rights toJeopardy!andWheel of Fortune. Part of the challenge now is that when the shows were founded, decades ago, independent producers had much more of a say in how they were put out into the world. The Federal Communications Commission wanted to lessen the authority of major networks on content, which led Merv Griffin and Roger King to strike a distribution deal. Griffin and King’s former enterprises were sold to CBS and Sony, respectively, forcing both companies to reach a resolution.
All 5 Hosts Of Wheel Of Fortune In Order, From Chuck Woolery To Ryan Seacrest
The Wheel of Fortune hosts in order will take you from Chuck Woolery in the 1970s to Ryan Seacrest in the 2020s, after he took over for Pat Sajak.
PerPuck, the Sony and CBS legal battle has been updated again as Sony is now shopping rights forJeopardy!andWheel of Fortune. According to the source, Sony is trying to frame its decision as unrelated to its battle with CBS, even though it is ostensibly connected. In reaction,CBS is already arguing that Sony’s effort to sell the streaming rights is a direct breach of contract. Early signs say that the former distributor may not back down on its claims even as Sony attempts to sell next-day rights now and same-day rights starting in 2028.
Our Take On The Ongoing Jeopardy! & Wheel Of Fortune Legal Battle
Both Shows Are Extremely Profitable
Ultimately, this issue between Sony and CBS comes down to the massive revenue brought in by both series.Jeopardy!andWheel of Fortuneboth bring in millions of nightly views withgame show contestants trying to win big, soSony, if successful, can likely make a big profit off of selling their streaming rights. However, the pushback the company will get from CBS will likely delay this streaming deal from happening or in some way disrupt the deal’s finalization.
