Sony, CBS ‘Wheel of Fortune’, ‘Jeopardy!’ conflict

Sony Pictures Television and CBS’ popular “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jepardy!” You have reached a settlement in their hard-fought legal battle over distribution rights. syndicated game shows.

“We have reached an amicable settlement,” Sony and CBS said in a joint statement Friday. “We look forward to working together to continue bringing these great shows to audiences and stations around the world.”

Financial terms were not disclosed.

As part of the deal, CBS will continue to air the show in the US for 2 ½ years through the 2027-2028 television season. After that, Sony will control the domestic distribution rights.

Sony owns both the show and produces it in its hometown of Culver City.

The shows have maintained their popularity and strong ratings even in the age of streaming, as traditional television has declined. They remain among the most watched programs on television.

The dispute began a year ago, when Sony canceled its distribution deal with CBS and later filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit alleging that CBS entered into unauthorized licensing deals for shows and then paid itself commissions. Sony also maintained that budget cuts at CBS, which is owned by Paramount, hampered the network’s efforts to support the two shows.

Earlier this year, Sony tried to remove CBS from the picture, fueling the controversy.

CBS has long maintained that it has the legal right to distribute the show to television stations nationwide. The publisher previously claimed that Sony’s claims “are rooted in the fact that they simply don’t like the deal the parties agreed to decades ago.”

For years, CBS collected up to 40% of the fees that TV stations paid to carry the show. The network took over distribution of the program when it acquired syndication company King World Productions in 1999.

King World began in the early 1980s with “Jeopardy!” The show’s original producer, Merv Griffin Enterprises, struck a deal to distribute. and “Wheel of Fortune.” Sony later acquired Griffin’s company, but those initial agreements remain in effect.

As part of this week’s settlement, CBS will handle all ad sales through the 2029-2030 television season.

However, Sony will take over all marketing, promotion and affiliate relations for the show after the current TV season, which ends in mid-2026. Sony will also handle profitable brand integration campaigns.

In another element that was important to Sony, the studio will claim international distribution rights as early as this December.