CBS won a temporary legal reprieve, allowing the network to continue to distribute “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy” in the middle of a battle launched with Sony Pictures Television.
On Wednesday, three California judges signed an order which interrupted last week's decision by a judge of the lower court, which removed CBS from his distribution functions for emblematic emblem.
Los Angeles Judge had ruled that Sony did not need to provide additional episodes of CBS programs so that he could distribute them to television stations across the country.
This decision is “suspended pending the additional ordinance of this court,” said the judges in a signed order. The panel gave Sony until April 28 to answer.
Last week, the judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, Kevin Brazile, judged that Sony Pictures Television had the right to resume the distribution of his game programs “Sweet!” and “Wheel of Fortune” of the longtime partner CBS.
Sony ended its distribution agreement with CBS in August and Later, filed a complaint for breach of contract This said that the broadcaster of Paramount Global concluded unauthorized license agreements for the shows, then paid for a commission. Sony also argued that budget cuts within CBS had harmed the network efforts to support the two programs.
The pursuit of the Los Angeles Superior Court also alleged that CBS had authorized emissions at prices below the market and has not maximized advertising revenues.
CBS has long managed the distribution of “Jeopardy!” And “Wheel”, which belongs to Sony and produced on the studio's ass field.
CBS said Sony's claims “are rooted in the fact that they simply do not like the agreement that the parties accepted decades ago.”
CBS takes up to 40% of the costs that television stations pay to wear the emissions. The company has resumed the distribution of the program when it has acquired a syndication company King World Productions in 1999.
King World concluded agreements with the original producer, Merv Griffin Enterprises, in the early 1980s to distribute “Jeopardy!” and “wheel”. Sony then acquired Griffin's company, but these first agreements remain in force.
While the vision of traditional television has decreased due to competition for streaming in recent years, the two daily game shows have continued to thrive and are among the most watched programs on television.
Sony refused to comment.
