Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune fans might need to break out the potent potables after reading this news: The 24/7 Pluto channels devoted to both shows have quietly ended their runs on the platform. Back in 2022, series distributor Sony Pictures Television struck a two-year licensing agreement with Pluto for the pair of iconic game shows, allowing hundreds of classic episodes to live on separate FAST channels as well as stream on demand. Game-show nerds were ecstatic when the channels launched on August 1, 2022, and again when Pluto added more new episodes of the shows last year. But while Pluto and Sony did have conversations about renewing their agreement, a source familiar with the situation says the two parties were not able to reach an agreement on extending their arrangement.
And so on Thursday, August 1, with no new deal in place between Sony and Pluto, the channels and on-demand episodes just vanished with zero advance notice — leaving fans to ponder the question “What Are: Things That Are Annoying About Streaming?” Pluto has been informing users on social media that the shows are no longer on the service; a rep for the platform declined further comment. A rep for Sony had no comment about the departures — and whether or not the studio has plans to move its Jeopardy! and Wheel channels to another streamer. But one person familiar with the studio’s thinking understands Sony is looking to expand its distribution strategy for classic episodes, with the goal of offering more streaming opportunities for audiences to watch the shows. When we broke the story about the quizzers landing on Pluto back in ’22, sources told us multiple platforms had expressed interest in licensing the shows. Psst, Tubi: You have control of the board.
This story has been updated.