The increasingly ugly battle between CBS Media Ventures and Sony Pictures Television over the first distribution of the syndicated megahits Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy has reached its conclusion! The two companies issued a joint press release on Friday announcing that they had reached an “amicable resolution” to the legal battle over the two shows.
According to the settlement, international distribution of “Wheels” and “Jeopardy” will transition to Sony on December 1st. U.S. distribution for both shows will continue to be handled by CBS until the 2027-2028 television season, after which the distribution will be transferred to Sony. Marketing, promotions and affiliate relationships for “Wheel” and “Jeopardy” will continue to be handled by CBS through the current 2025-2026 television season, after which they will transition to Sony.
Meanwhile, CBS will lead all ad sales through at least the 2029-2030 television season. (Sony previously carried limited spot inventory.) There’s no mention of ad sales plans beyond 2030 or whether that might be extended.
“We have reached an amicable resolution regarding the syndication of ‘Jeopardy!’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune,'” the companies said in a joint statement. “We look forward to working together to continue bringing these beloved programs to viewers and broadcasters around the world.”
Sony and CBS have long been partners on “Wheel” and “Jeopardy,” with Sony owning and producing the shows and CBS overseeing distribution. This directorial difference comes from how both shows came to be in the modern era: Merv Griffin Prods. It produced and owned both programs and was acquired by Columbia Pictures Television (now Sony Pictures TV) in 1986. King World locked up the syndication rights to “Wheels” and “Jeopardy” in 1984 from Griffin in 1983, but they were acquired by CBS in 1999.
The partnership was shaken up in October 2024 when Sony sued CBS, accusing it of self-dealing and failing to maximize revenue from syndicating both shows. The lawsuit alleges that corporate personnel at CBS made it impossible to properly distribute the show, alleges that The Eye’s contracts in New Zealand and Australia were unauthorized, and accuses CBS of broadcasting its wholly-owned syndicated series on stations that rank higher than “Wheel” or “Jeopardy” in some markets.
In November 2024, CBS countersued Sony, accusing it of creating a false pretext to terminate King World’s 42-year distribution agreement. “Sony is trying to find every excuse to get in court what it didn’t get at the bargaining table: the free rights to the series,” the counterclaim said.
In February, Sony sent a formal letter to CBS announcing that it would take over distribution of “Wheel” and “Jeopardy” to the more than 200 television stations that syndicate the shows. CBS told the networks that Sony had “no right” to take over distribution. CBS was also granted a restraining order, preventing Sony from immediately acquiring distribution.
“Sony Pictures owns, manages, produces and finances Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune.” “Based on CBS’ continued failure to meet its contractual obligations, SPT believes it has legally terminated its distribution agreement with CBS for its programming and assumed worldwide distribution functions accordingly,” Sony said at the time. CBS responded, “We are pleased that the court has issued a temporary restraining order against Sony’s illegal actions.We will continue to seamlessly distribute “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” in the future.” To our station’s customers, just as we have for over 40 years. ”
But in April, a judge allowed Sony to take over distribution of both shows, ruling that Sony was likely to prevail on its claims that CBS had not fulfilled its contractual obligations. A week later, CBS regained distribution after a state appeals court sided with Eye.
Here is a memo sent by CBS Media Ventures to domestic and international business partners:
On behalf of Sony Pictures Television and CBS Studios Inc., I am pleased to announce that we have reached an amicable resolution to the pending litigation regarding Jeopardy. And Wheel of Fortune. Although the exact terms of the settlement are confidential, CBS will remain the exclusive domestic distributor of syndicated programming and will continue to distribute programming through the 2027/2028 season. From then on, domestic distribution will shift to SPT. CBS will also expand its role to exclusively lead all advertising sales through the 2029/2030 season. However, the show’s marketing, promotions and affiliate relationships will transition to SPT at the end of the 2025/2026 season. Additionally, SPT will continue to manage brand integration. Additionally, international distribution of the program will shift to SPT from December 1, 2025. We look forward to working together to bring these beloved shows to broadcasters and viewers around the world.
