Latest news with #KeithLeGoy
6 days ago
- Entertainment
'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune' to be available for next-day streaming: Find out where
Get ready to binge your favorite classic game shows. 5:52 Calling all game show fans! In-season syndicated episodes of "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" will soon be available for next-day streaming on multiple platforms including Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and Peacock, Sony Pictures Television announced Tuesday. "We are thrilled to bring America's favorite game shows to an even wider audience on Hulu, Hulu on Disney+, and Peacock," Sony Pictures Television Chairman Keith Le Goy said in a statement. "'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." Lara Spencer reacts to being 'Jeopardy Masters' clue Viewers will be able to watch both new and old episodes of the popular TV game shows starting in September. Sony Pictures Television said it hopes that by bringing the games shows to streaming services, they can cultivate a new generation of fans. Both "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" have long been TV mainstays, with "Jeopardy!" first airing in March 1964 and "Wheel of Fortune" following suit nearly a decade later in January 1975. Former contestant Ken Jennings now hosts "Jeopardy!" succeeding the late Alex Trebek. The quiz show will kick off its 43rd season in the fall. Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest co-host "Wheel of Fortune," with Seacrest taking over for Pat Sajak last fall. "Wheel" is wrapping the end of its 42nd season and will pick back up with season 43 this fall.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune headed to streaming
Two of America's most iconic game shows are finally headed to streaming. Starting this September, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune will be available to stream on Hulu, Peacock, and Hulu on Disney+, Variety has reported. This marks the first time that the long-running shows will be accessible on major platforms the day after they air on television. The multi-year deal, made by Sony Pictures Television, includes both current and select past episodes of each series. That means fans will not only get to keep up with the latest game shows but also revisit memorable moments from past seasons. 'We are thrilled to bring America's favorite 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.' Streaming will begin as Jeopardy! hits its 42nd season and Wheel marks its 43rd. 'These deals will expand Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune's reach to a new generation of viewers while ensuring that existing fans can enjoy their favorite shows with greater accessibility , deepening the fandom overall for these formidable franchises,' Sony added in its release. Historically, the absence of the shows from the streaming world has puzzled viewers, especially given their massive popularity. However, the shows' syndication structure and the ongoing legal disputes between Sony and CBS have long complicated their digital distribution. In 2024, Sony filed a lawsuit against CBS, claiming the network engaged in acts of 'self-dealing' in its distribution of the popular game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. Sony claimed in the court docs that CBS breached agreements in making unauthorized transactions in Australia and New Zealand that garnered them revenues of $3.6 million they subsequently refused to share, according to Variety. CBS countersued weeks later, in which the company claimed Sony was 'attempting to obtain in court what it could not get at the bargaining table: the rights to the series for free, by finding any excuse it can muster.' In April, a judge ruled in favor of Sony taking over the distribution of the shows. However, just last week, the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, granted CBS a writ of supersedeas. That means CBS will remain the current distributor while the appeal is ongoing, effectively pausing the April decision until the legal process is complete. The news of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! coming to streaming follows another major program's signing of a streaming service deal. 'By combining our reach, recommendations, and fandom with WWE, we'll be able to deliver more joy and value for their audiences and our members. 'RAW is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live-action 52 weeks a year and we're thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.'
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Major changes coming to Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! after more than 40 seasons of the iconic shows
Two of America's most iconic game shows are finally headed to streaming. Starting this September, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune will be available to stream on Hulu, Peacock, and Hulu on Disney+, Variety has reported. This marks the first time that the long-running shows will be accessible on major platforms the day after they air on television. The multi-year deal, made by Sony Pictures Television, includes both current and select past episodes of each series. That means fans will not only get to keep up with the latest game shows but also revisit memorable moments from past seasons. 'We are thrilled to bring America's favorite 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.' Streaming will begin as Jeopardy! hits its 42nd season and Wheel marks its 43rd. 'These deals will expand Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune's reach to a new generation of viewers while ensuring that existing fans can enjoy their favorite shows with greater accessibility, deepening the fandom overall for these formidable franchises,' Sony added in its release. Historically, the absence of the shows from the streaming world has puzzled viewers, especially given their massive popularity. However, the shows' syndication structure and the ongoing legal disputes between Sony and CBS have long complicated their digital distribution. In 2024, Sony filed a lawsuit against CBS, claiming the network engaged in acts of 'self-dealing' in its distribution of the popular game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. Sony claimed in the court docs that CBS breached agreements in making unauthorized transactions in Australia and New Zealand that garnered them revenues of $3.6 million they subsequently refused to share, according to Variety. CBS countersued weeks later, in which the company claimed Sony was 'attempting to obtain in court what it could not get at the bargaining table: the rights to the series for free, by finding any excuse it can muster.' In April, a judge ruled in favor of Sony taking over the distribution of the shows. However, just last week, the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, granted CBS a writ of supersedeas. That means CBS will remain the current distributor while the appeal is ongoing, effectively pausing the April decision until the legal process is complete. The news of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! coming to streaming follows another major program's signing of a streaming service deal. In January, WWE RAW finally made its long-awaited, $3.8 billion debut on Netflix. RAW has been running since 1993 and is broadcasted every Monday night. Netflix chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, said at the time: 'We are excited to have WWE RAW, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix. 'By combining our reach, recommendations, and fandom with WWE, we'll be able to deliver more joy and value for their audiences and our members. 'RAW is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live-action 52 weeks a year and we're thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.'
Los Angeles Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
'Wheel of Fortune,' ‘Jeopardy,' to stream on Hulu, Peacock
What shows no longer will air only on TV? What are 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune?' Beginning this fall, the two shows will expand beyond their broadcast runs to streaming services Peacock and Hulu in the U.S., Sony Pictures Television announced Tuesday. Fans still will be able to continue their routines by watching new episodes of the programs on their local stations. But the new licensing agreements with Peacock, owned by NBCUniversal, and Hulu, owned by the Walt Disney Co., mark the first time current-season episodes also will be available on national streaming platforms the day after episodes debut on broadcast TV. The move is a recognition by Sony that broadcast TV audiences are aging, and the studio must expand the shows' reach to stay relevant with younger viewers. The deals will give Peacock and Hulu customers access to older episodes of the shows, enabling viewers to binge on the brain teasers. 'We are thrilled to bring America's favorite game shows to an even wider audience on Hulu, Hulu on Disney+, and Peacock,' Keith Le Goy, Chairman of Sony Pictures Television, said in a statement. Sony owns the shows and produces them on its Culver City lot. The shift comes as Sony continues to battle CBS over distribution rights to the two shows. In April, a Los Angeles judge ruled that Sony was no longer obligated to provide episodes to CBS, which has delivered batches of episodes to television stations around the country for decades. After that ruling, the Paramount Global-owned network appealed. A three-judge appellate panel paused the order and asked both sides to submit their arguments. Last week, the judges ruled that CBS could continue to distribute the shows during the appeals process. CBS maintains Sony lacks the legal right to unilaterally sever ties. Sony terminated its distribution deal with CBS in August and later filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit that claimed CBS entered into unauthorized licensing deals for the shows and then paid itself a commission. Sony also maintained that rounds of budget cuts within CBS had hobbled the network's efforts to support the two shows. In February, Sony attempted to cut CBS out of the picture, escalating the dispute. Hulu and Peacock will begin streaming the shows in September with the launch of the 42nd season of 'Jeopardy' and the 43rd season of 'Wheel of Fortune.'
New York Times
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Jeopardy!' and ‘Wheel of Fortune' to Leap to Streaming
'Wheel of Fortune' and 'Jeopardy!' are two of the biggest holdouts of the streaming revolution, available only on traditional broadcast television. Not for much longer. Sony Pictures Entertainment, the owner of the popular game shows, said on Thursday that it was soliciting bids from major media and tech companies for the streaming rights to new episodes of the two series for the first time. 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune' still command big audiences — roughly seven million viewers a night for each, according to Nielsen. That audience, however, is getting older and declining, just like the audiences for rest of traditional television. Other mainstays of broadcast television have recently made their way to streaming as well. 'WWE Raw,' which used to run on cable television, began streaming on Netflix every week in January. The National Football League streams Thursday games on Amazon Prime Video, and Fox's broadcast of the Super Bowl this month streamed live on the free platform Tubi. On Sunday, the Academy Awards will stream live on Hulu for the first time. 'The world is changing around us,' said Keith Le Goy, the chairman of Sony's television division. 'Consumption on streaming is now overtaking consumption of other forms of delivery of television. Big iconic franchises, like the N.F.L, the N.B.A. and W.W.E., are moving over.' The initial streaming rights to 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune' would begin in September and could be for three years, Sony officials said. During that time, the company that wins the rights will be able to stream new episodes the day after they air on syndicated television. Exclusive same-day rights to new episodes are available starting in September 2028, when all pre-existing syndication deals expire. Sony is in negotiations with several streaming companies, and it anticipates that a deal will be reached by early April. This would give the winning bidder an opportunity to trumpet the shows at its annual showcase for advertisers in May — the so-called upfront. 'We want to make sure that these shows are as relevant as they are now — or more — 40 years from now,' said Ravi Ahuja, who became the chief executive of Sony Pictures Entertainment last month. Mr. Ahuja said he had been thinking about how to move the shows to streaming since he joined the company four years ago. 'People are running all over town looking for intellectual property,' he said. 'When I got here it was clear that 'Wheel of Fortune' and 'Jeopardy!' were the proverbial assets hiding in plain sight. There was full awareness in the country, massive viewership and a passionate fan base. All of that pointed to a big opportunity for more growth.' The company has made big investments in preparation for this moment. Ryan Seacrest replaced Pat Sajak as host of 'Wheel of Fortune' last year, and the company signed him to a long-term deal — through the early 2030s — to help the show transition to streaming. Likewise, Ken Jennings became the full-time host of 'Jeopardy!' in late 2023. Both shows have also significantly upgraded their sets and the technology they use. Executives stressed that the streaming rights were unrelated to a monthslong legal fight between Sony and CBS over distribution rights for the syndicated shows. 'These rights are entirely separate from the syndication rights that CBS has,' Mr. Le Goy said. Sony has made moves in recent years to make the streaming bid more compelling. The company pulled streaming rights for older episodes of both shows from the free streaming service Pluto last summer, causing a dust-up among loyal fans. And in a first, a spinoff series, 'Pop Culture Jeopardy!,' began streaming on Amazon in December, a move that Suzanne Prete, Sony's president of game shows, described as 'dipping our toe in the water.' Executives said they wanted to be cautious about introducing decades-old shows to streaming. They are hopeful they can find newer and younger viewers who do not flip on a TV set at 7 p.m. in search of syndicated series. But they also do not want to alienate the millions who tune in every night the old-fashioned way — or the local stations that have broadcast the shows for decades. 'The streamers did that with sports, too,' Ms. Prete said. 'They conditioned the audience.' In addition to a big audience, both shows produce a staggering volume of new syndicated episodes: 425 a year, combined. That could be appealing to streaming companies. Consumers are canceling their streaming subscriptions at higher rates, and every company, from Netflix to Max to Peacock, is trying to find ways to deter that behavior. The game shows could provide a daily habit that makes a subscriber less inclined to jump around. And nearly every major streaming service has cheaper tiers that feature commercials to add a new revenue line. Last year, 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune' together generated $175 million in advertising revenue, according to Guideline, an advertising data firm. 'This gives them a real opportunity to meaningfully expand their presence with Madison Avenue,' Mr. Le Goy said.
