CBS Likely to Lose Bid to Block Sony From Taking Over ‘Jeopardy!’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Rights

CBS is poised to lose its legal attempt to stop Sony Group Corp. from taking over the distribution of ‘Jeopardy!’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune’, as a California judge issued a tentative ruling in Sony’s favour on Wednesday.

“Sony can begin distributing the shows and need not deliver episodes to CBS,” said Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kevin C. Brazile.

The judge is expected to finalise the ruling following a hearing on Thursday, where CBS will have an opportunity to argue against it.

A spokesperson for CBS Media Ventures stated, “We’ll go to court tomorrow, as scheduled, and argue that the ‘tentative’ ruling should not become ‘final’; and, if it does, that its effect is stayed pending our appeal, which we would file immediately.”

Sony has not yet responded publicly.

The dispute began in October, when Sony sued CBS, alleging the network had failed to aggressively maximise revenue from licensing and advertising the game shows, despite generating over $1 billion from the long-standing distribution agreement.

The case, Sony Pictures Television Inc. v. CBS Studios Inc., is being heard in the California Superior Court in Los Angeles County.