The increasingly ugly battle between CBS Media Ventures and Sony Pictures Television over the distribution of first-run syndicated megahits “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” has come to a conclusion. Both sides sent out a joint press release on Friday, announcing that they had come to an “amicable resolution” over their legal battles regarding the two shows.

According to the settlement, international distribution of “Wheel” and “Jeopardy” will transition to Sony on December 1. The U.S. domestic distribution of both shows will continue to be handled by CBS through the 2027-2028 TV season, when that will also move to Sony. Marketing, promotions and affiliate relations for “Wheel” and “Jeopardy” will continue to be handled by CBS through this current 2025-2026 TV season, and then move to Sony.

Meanwhile, CBS will lead all advertising sales through at least the 2029-2030 TV season. (Sony had previously handled a limited inventory of spots.) There was no mention of the plan for ad sales after 2030 or if that might be extended.

“We have reached an amicable resolution regarding the syndicated distribution of ‘Jeopardy!’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune,’” the companies said in their joint statement. “We look forward to working together to continue bringing these beloved shows to audiences and stations around the world.”

Sony and CBS have been partners on “Wheel” and “Jeopardy” for years, with Sony owning the shows and handling production, and CBS overseeing distribution. That oversight split comes from the legacy of how both shows came to be in the modern era: Merv Griffin Prods. created and owned both shows, and was acquired by Columbia Pictures Television (now Sony Pictures TV) in 1986; King World, which sealed syndication rights to “Wheel” from Griffin in 1983 and “Jeopardy” in 1984, was acquired by CBS in 1999.

That partnership was rocked in October 2024, when Sony filed a lawsuit, accusing CBS of self-dealing and failing to maximize revenues in its syndication of both shows. The suit alleged that CBS’ corporate shuffles had rendered it incapable of properly distributing the shows, and also said the Eye’s deals in New Zealand and Australia were unauthorized, plus accused CBS of putting its fully owned syndicated series on higher ranked TV stations than “Wheel” and “Jeopardy” in some markets.

In November 2024, CBS countersued, arguing that Sony had created a false pretext in order to get out of the 42-year-old King World distribution contract. “Sony is 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,” the countersuit said.

In February, Sony sent CBS a formal letter announcing that it would take over distributing “Wheel” and “Jeopardy” to the 200+ TV stations that syndicate the shows. CBS responded to stations, asserting that Sony had “no rights” to take over distribution. CBS was also granted a restraining order, preventing Sony from immediately grabbing distribution.

“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,” Sony said at the time. Responded CBS: “We’re pleased the court issued a temporary restraining order against Sony’s unlawful actions. We will continue to seamlessly distribute ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and ‘Jeopardy!’ to our station clients like we have for over 40 years.”

But then in April, a judge allowed Sony to take over distribution of both shows, finding that Sony was likely to prevail on its claim that CBS has failed to live up to its contractual obligations. And then a week later, CBS regained distribution again after a state appeals court sided with the Eye.

Here is the note sent to domestic and international business partners by CBS Media Ventures:

On behalf of Sony Pictures Television and CBS Studios Inc., we are thrilled to let you know that we have arrived at an amicable resolution to the pending litigation regarding Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. While the precise terms of our settlement will remain confidential, CBS will remain the exclusive domestic distributor of the shows in syndication and continue to deliver the shows through the 2027/2028 season. Thereafter, domestic distribution will transition to SPT. Also, CBS will expand its role and exclusively lead all advertising sales through the 2029/2030 season. However, the marketing, promotions and affiliate relations for the shows will transition to SPT at the end of the 2025/2026 season. Further, SPT will continue to manage brand integrations. And international distribution of the shows will transition to SPT as of December 1, 2025. We look forward to working together to bring these beloved shows to stations and audiences around the world.