Sony and CBS are in a authorized battle over the 2 sport exhibits Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy! The 2 firms each really feel they’ve the rights to the sport exhibits. Who will win the authorized battle? Maintain studying to seek out out extra.
Sony Despatched CBS A Letter
Sony Footage Tv and CBS are in a feisty authorized battle over the distribution of the favored sport exhibits Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy! Sony just lately despatched a letter to CBS on February 3, 2025, informing the corporate that it might take over the distribution of recent episodes of the exhibits beginning as early as subsequent week. This could contain delivering episodes to over 200 TV stations that air these exhibits throughout the nation. Sony’s transfer follows a lawsuit it filed towards CBS in October 2024, accusing the corporate of breaching its distribution contract and failing to satisfy obligations, together with over a dispute with scores supplier Nielsen.
CBS, nevertheless, strongly disagrees with Sony’s declare. In response to Sony’s letter, CBS informed station associates that Sony has no proper to take management of distribution and that the settlement between the 2 firms nonetheless stands. CBS insists that its contract with Sony, courting again to the Nineteen Eighties, grants CBS the rights to distribute the exhibits “in perpetuity.” CBS maintains that Sony’s claims are primarily based on dissatisfaction with an previous deal that they now wish to change.
Each Corporations Maintain Rights
On the heart of the dispute is a posh authorized battle over management of the distribution rights for the 2 exhibits. CBS and Sony have each argued that they maintain the rights to the exhibits by means of completely different paths. CBS took management of the distribution rights in 2000 when it acquired King World Productions, the corporate that had beforehand dealt with distribution. Sony, nevertheless, owns the manufacturing rights by means of its acquisition of Merv Griffin Leisure in 1994, an organization based by the creator of each Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy!
Sony’s lawsuit additionally highlights a dispute over CBS’s resolution to chop ties with Nielsen in October 2024. Nielsen is an organization that measures TV scores and gives necessary information for advertisers. Sony claims that with out this information, CBS has been unable to promote promoting for the exhibits successfully, which is hurting the exhibits’ profitability. That is particularly problematic because the “upfront” promoting gross sales interval approaches, a vital time when most advert offers are made for the yr.
The battle might have an effect on main tv stations, notably ABC’s owned stations in key markets like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. These stations are necessary associates for Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy!, they usually might discover themselves caught in the course of this dispute between Sony and CBS. With each firms standing agency, it’s attention-grabbing to see how the authorized battle will play out and whether or not the exhibits will stay with CBS or transition to Sony’s management.
