BOTH Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune have announced major changes to the shows starting next season.
Fans of both shows are raving at the news and say the move is “long overdue”.
5
Ryan Seacrest hosts Wheel Of FortuneCredit: Instagram / ryanseacrest
5
Ken Jennings has been the main face of Jeopardy since 2023Credit: Getty
Both Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are headed for a streaming deal for the first time.
The owner, Sony Pictures Entertainment, will be looking to attract a larger and younger audience to the long-running formats.
Yesterday, the parent company confirmed that it was soliciting bids from major companies in the media and tech sectors.
An executive from the company confirmed that it expects to clinch a deal by early April as it is in talks with several streaming services.
READ MORE ON WHEEL OF FORTUNE
According to The New York Times, these deals would be for the streaming rights to new episodes of the programs.
The company has also revealed that the rights for the popular game shows could last for three years and will be active starting in September.
Keith Le Goy is the chairman of Sony’s TV division and he told the outlet: “The world is changing around us.
“Consumption on streaming is now overtaking consumption of other forms of delivery of television.”
Jeopardy! first premiered on TV screens in 1964, before Wheel Of Fortune was launched a year later.
According to Nielsen ratings, both shows attracted a huge audience with seven million Americans watching each night.
Ryan Seacrest checks Wheel of Fortune contestant for earpiece as she gets $50,000 question with only four letters
But decades later in the streaming age, the audiences are growing older and getting smaller like other classic shows.
This tactic is quickly becoming a growing trend in TV as other huge companies are moving in the same way.
WWE signed a deal last year as it agreed to air its flagship program, WWE Raw, exclusively on Netflix.
The NFL streams Thursday night games on Amazon Prime, and for the very first time, The Oscars was streamed live on Hulu this year.
The Super Bowl was also streamed on free service Tubi for the first time in 2024.
Jeopardy has been hosted by Ken Jennings since 2023 whilst Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White are the main faces of Wheel Of Fortune.
Jeopardy! Set Secrets
Jeopardy! fans don’t see everything behind the scenes from watching on TV. These hidden set features make the show run smoothly:
Each podium has a hidden riser so that all contestants appear to be the same height.
After each clue is read, signal lights go off around the game board, indicating players can buzz in and respond.
Buzz in too early, and you’re locked out for .25 seconds.
The podiums have a small white light in the lower left corner, which tells Ken Jennings who goes next.
Contrary to popular belief, the player with control doesn’t have a buzzer advantage on the next clue.
To the game board’s left is a scoreboard so the players can see their opponents’ scores.
All contestants must bring three outfits to the studio, but only the host and returning champion change for the next episode.
There are wardrobe rules, including restrictions on busy patterns, solid white, purple (like the background), and logos.
Five episodes are taped in a single day, and sometimes more.
The categories, players (aside from the returning champion), and Final Jeopardy! for a tape day are all drawn randomly to ensure fairness.
Female contestants are asked not to wear makeup, which is applied backstage, and don’t wear mascara because of sweat.
Contestants fill out a questionnaire, and producers select five Q&A topics for the host.
Host Ken isn’t allowed to interact with the contestants until after the game.
Players can request to sit in a chair while competing without question.
5
Sony is opting for a different strategy with Jeopardy (pictured) and Wheel of FortuneCredit: Getty
5
The corporation wants to strike a deal for the streaming rights of both showsCredit: Getty
5
Talks are currently taking place with a deal expected to be finalised in AprilCredit: Getty
