SPT strikes US streamer deals for Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!

Sony Pictures Television has struck a deal with US streamers Peacock and Hulu for Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, amid its ongoing distribution battle with CBS.

The multi-year, co-exclusive, national next-day licensing pacts will see the shows become available on Peacock, Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ in the US, marking the first time that in-season syndicated episodes will be available on national streamers.

SPT described the agreement as an “exciting new strategic partnership”, with the pact also including access to library episodes of the shows.

“We are thrilled to bring America’s favourite game shows to an even wider audience on Hulu, Hulu on Disney+, and Peacock,” said Keith Le Goy, chairman of Sony Pictures Television.

“Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are two of the most successful game shows in television history and we look forward to giving fans the best possible streaming access to our shows this fall.”

Paramount+ was noticeably absent from the deal, which comes after a US judge ruled on 29 May that CBS would remain sole distributor of the shows on linear in the US while the case makes its way through the courts.

SPT and Paramount’s CBS Studios have been at loggerheads over the distribution of the Sony-owned gameshows for months, after SPT filed a lawsuit against CBS Studios in October.

The US studio was handed temporary control of distribution rights to the iconic gameshows earlier this year, in a ruling that covered the duration of its court battle with CBS.

CBS secured a reprieve in mid-April and a further ruling last week by US appeal court judges formally returned distribution back to CBS, which will remain in place as legal proceedings continue.

SPT alleged that CBS Studios owed it money from previous distribution deals and said it was taking back rights to licensing the shows in the US and around the world.

Sony also claimed CBS Studios had violated terms of its 40-year distribution contract by setting up licensing deals beyond the agreed two-year period in territories including Australia and New Zealand, and had bundled the show with what Sony claimed were less popular CBS series of lesser value.

CBS, however, argued that Sony’s court action was a means by which to retake distribution and said Sony had offered a nine-figure sum to buy the rights back. That was dismissed by CBS, which claimed it was only then that Sony took legal action.

Both titles are distributed by CBS in conjunction with Paramount’s sales arm, Paramount Global Content Distribution (PGCD). Sony produces the series.