‘Jeopardy!’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune’ dispute escalates when Sony takes over distribution

Sony Pictures Television said it has stopped delivering new episodes of its popular games showing “Jeopardy!” And “Wheel of Fortune” to long -time distributor CBS, who escalates a contract rigid between the two TV giants.

Culver City-based Sony announced on Monday that it had taken over the global distribution of the two shows. The study said it would bypass CBS and send new episodes directly to TV stations that released the programs.

CBS fired back and said Sony could not unilaterally end the distribution agreement between the two companies. In a statement, CBS promised to seek a temporary restriction order to preserve his ties to the honest shows.

“CBS remains the distributor of the series, despite any communication from Sony to the opposite,” CBS Media Ventures said in a statement, called Sony’s statement about the case “false, inappropriate and ineffective.”

“CBS will seek immediate relief from the relevant courts,” CBS said. “All business must continue on the usual course.”

For more than 40 years, CBS has distributed the performances owned by Sony and produced at the study party.

Early Monday, Sony’s game president, Suzanne Prete, sent a letter to the President of CBS News and Media Ventures, Wendy McMahon, who said this week’s batch of episodes sent to CBS on January 27 would be the last.

“Sony Pictures begins the delivery of episodes of the shows to TV stations starting with the episodes scheduled to broadcast the week of February 10,” Prete told McMahon.

Last fall, Sony moved to terminate CBS ‘distribution agreements due to alleged violations.

Sony filed a violation of trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court in October and claimed that CBS had entered into unauthorized agreements with foreign television companies and undermined the value of the two game exhibitions that have retained a loyal subsequently despite shrinking ratings over that TV -tv -tv Landscape.

CBS claimed in a counter -complaint last fall that Sony had previously tried to renegotiate contract terms by purchasing distribution rights back to the two programs. As this failed, CBS claimed, Sony began looking for other ways of exercising control.

Sony says that extensive redundancies at CBS owned by Shari Redstone-controlled Paramount Global have “decimated whole teams responsible for shows’ license, marketing and campaigns and advertising sales.”

Sony employees have had to step in to perform tasks traditionally performed by CBS, including marketing and promotions, the study said. “Sony Pictures have had to participate in and even take over negotiations with larger station groups on renewals of the show,” said the Sony Case.

Paramount has been struggling with financial matches for several years. Last summer, Tech Scion David Ellison and his family agreed to buy Redstone’s controlling share in Paramount. Federal supervisory authorities are reviewing Ellison’s plans to take over Paramount and combine it with his shooting media production company. Paramount and Skydance leaders hope Deal will close in the spring.

Sony said in his trial that CBS takes 35% to 45% of the fees that TV stations pay to carry the two programs.

“CBS has profited massively – to a tune of more than a billion dollars – according to the agreements, mainly because of Sony Pictures’ ongoing investment in and consistent dedication to producing and promoting the show,” Sony’s lawsuit said.

Sony also claimed that CBS signed distribution agreements in Australia and New Zealand, which exceeded the extent of CBS ‘distribution agreement.

CBS has defended its behavior.

“For more than 40 years, CBS and its predecessor company King World have been conducted distribution partners and thought -provoking stewards for ‘Wheel’ and ‘Jeopardy!’ In the syndication market, ”CBS said last fall in a statement. “This work has helped to build shows for franchises, transform popular series into cultural icons and deliver Sony billions of dollar revenue.”

Another wrinkle in the Sony tvist is CBS ‘separate contract match with the rat giant Nielsen. For months, CBS programs were not covered by Nielsen and its Ratings, which remains the TV industry’s primary source of audience data. Sony claimed that the lack of Ratings undermined CBS ‘ability “to maximize advertising sales and syndication” and led to the loss of a key contract.

On Monday, Nielsen and Paramount announced separately that they had reached a new agreement and that Paramount Networks and Platforms, including CBS, Paramount+ and Pluto TV, would be covered by Nielsen again.