Sony Pictures Television has abruptly ended its distribution agreement with CBS, taking control of 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune.' This move follows a protracted legal battle and accusations of breached contracts. CBS vows to fight the decision in court.
Sony Pictures Television has severed ties with longtime distributor CBS , halting the delivery of new episodes of its popular game shows , ' Jeopardy !' and 'Wheel of Fortune.' This dramatic move escalates a contract dispute between the two media giants, leaving the future of these iconic programs in limbo. Sony announced on Monday that it had assumed global distribution rights for both shows, bypassing CBS and sending new episodes directly to the television stations that broadcast them.
CBS strongly refuted Sony's claims, stating that Sony could not unilaterally terminate their distribution agreement. The network vowed to pursue a temporary restraining order to maintain its longstanding relationship with the venerable shows.CBS Media Ventures issued a statement asserting, 'CBS remains the distributor for the series, notwithstanding any communications from Sony to the contrary.' They labeled Sony's statements as 'false, inappropriate, and ineffective,' adding, 'CBS will be seeking immediate relief from the appropriate courts. All business should continue in the usual course.' The rift stems from a breach of contract lawsuit filed by Sony in October against CBS. Sony alleges that CBS entered into unauthorized deals with foreign broadcasters and undermined the value of the two game shows, which, despite declining ratings, have maintained a dedicated fan base.CBS, in its counter-complaint, maintains that Sony attempted to renegotiate the deal terms by buying back distribution rights. When that failed, CBS claims Sony resorted to other tactics to exert control. Sony cites extensive layoffs at CBS, owned by Paramount Global, as a contributing factor to the dispute. The studio states that these layoffs 'decimated entire teams responsible for the shows' licensing, marketing and promotions, and advertising sales,' forcing Sony staff to take over tasks traditionally handled by CBS personnel. Adding another layer of complexity to the situation is CBS's ongoing contract battle with ratings giant Nielsen. For months, CBS programs were not included in Nielsen's ratings data, which remains the primary source of audience information for the television industry. Sony alleges that the lack of ratings hampered CBS's ability to maximize advertising sales and syndication, ultimately leading to the loss of a key advertiser. However, on Monday, Nielsen and Paramount announced a new agreement, restoring Nielsen's coverage of Paramount networks and platforms, including CBS, Paramount+, and Pluto TV.
GAME SHOWS DISTRIBUTION CONTRACT DISPUTE SONY PICTURES TELEVISION CBS JEOPARDY WHEEL OF FORTUNE
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