A dramatic turn of events has halted Sony’s attempt to acquire full control of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! from CBS, as a Los Angeles Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order against the media giant. The dispute began in October over a breach of contract dispute regarding CBS’s more than 40-year-old distribution contract for the shows.
Sony Pictures Television claims that CBS engaged in “self-dealing” by taking back control of the shows, including their global distribution. However, CBS disputes this claim and asserts that Sony has breached its own contract.
The temporary restraining order, issued on Thursday, prevents Sony from taking further action until a hearing scheduled for February 18. During this time, CBS will continue to distribute the shows to its station clients as usual.
Sony maintains that it owns, controls, produces, and finances Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, and believes it has lawfully terminated the distribution agreements with CBS. The company vows to take all necessary legal actions to protect its rights.
The outcome of this dispute remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the fate of these iconic game shows will be decided in the courts.
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/02/jeopardy-wheel-of-fortune-distribution-judge-ruling-1236280386