Sony hit with restraining order over gameshow distribution dispute

An ongoing row between Sony and Paramount over the distribution of the former’s Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! intensified yesterday after a US court slapped a temporary ban on Sony from seizing back the rights to the iconic gameshows. 

Earlier this week, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) had told CBS Studios it was taking back the rights to licensing the shows following on from a lawsuit filed against CBSS in October alleging the latter owed it money from previous distribution deals, as well as claiming it had violated terms of its 40-year distribution contract by setting up certain licensing deals in international territories.

The syndicated titles are distributed by CBSS in conjunction with Paramount’s sales arm Paramount Global Content Distribution (PGCD). 

Paramount countered, requesting the Superior Court of California to impose a temporary restraining order (TRO) on SPT’s intent to cancel PGCD’s contract as distributor of the titles. 

The court has ruled in favour of Paramount, with the TRO preventing Sony from attempting to take over distribution functions, with the longtime contract between PGCD remaining in place. 

The TRO is to last until February 18 at least, when presiding judge Kevin Brazile said a further ‘Status Conference’ hearing is scheduled, to set a time for a hearing for a potential permanent restraining order.  

A Paramount Global Content Distribution spokesperson said: “We’re pleased the court issued a temporary restraining order against Sony’s unlawful actions.  

“We will continue to seamlessly license Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! as both a completed show and local formats to our licensing clients like we have for over 40 years.”  

In response, SPT said: “Sony Pictures owns, controls, produces, and finances Jeopardy! And Wheel of Fortune. In light of CBS’s continuous failure to live up to its contractual obligations, SPT believes it has lawfully terminated the distribution agreements with CBS for the shows and accordingly assumed all global distribution functions. 

“Today the Court has instructed SPT to temporarily cease taking on the distribution of the shows until the Court can further hear from the parties on this issue in the near future.  

“To be clear, the Court’s order has no bearing on, and is not indicative of, the eventual outcome of the ongoing litigation.  

“SPT will continue to fight CBS’s egregious mishandling of these beloved shows and will take all necessary legal actions to protect our rights.”