As the battle over syndication rights heats up, game show staples such as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! are heading for an unexpected future that will change how (and where) fans watch them, forever. While many shows still air on network television and have actual premiere dates that fans count down and wait through commercials for, more commonly, we see them pop up on Netflix or some other streaming service with a full season ready to binge. Or, the show will air its episode live on television and be ready to stream on its desired platform the next day. This is both a blessing and a curse, and it looks like we can expect a similar track for classic game shows.
How exactly does it affect them, you may ask? Well, Matt Roush, TV critic for TV Insider, has shed some light on the fate of your favorite game shows and what they may look like in the wake of a streaming frenzy.
Will ‘Jeopardy!’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Be Moving to Streaming?
Given that even game shows, which have been such an unwavering staple on network television for years, are trying to keep up with the times by repeatedly swapping hosts for more relevant and timely personalities, audiences worry that these shows will eventually move to streaming. Roush shared his opinions on this sentiment:
”An understandable concern, given the way the marketplace is heading, but the new deal for these shows to stream a day after premiere on Hulu and Peacock is to increase, not limit, their availability. Both shows are renewed for syndication through the 2027-28 season, and I expect as long as they’re profitable, which they most certainly are, they’ll remain on air for all to see for the foreseeable future.”
As Roush says, so long as they remain profitable while airing on television, there should be no worries about classic game shows like Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune moving to streaming platforms solely. There’s currently no concern about that, especially in Wheel of Fortune’s case, since audience engagement was high in Season 42, despite longtime host Pat Sajak departing, and Ryan Seacrest taking over. It probably helps that, even though the show hasn’t gone fully modern by way of streaming, they have really upped their social media game, which has given fans more backstage goofiness between Vanna White and Seacrest that is enjoyable to see.
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‘Wheel of Fortune’ and ‘Jeopardy!’ Are Changing With the Times
Since the day they first premiered, both Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! have been available to watch only on network television. But, after a long battle over syndication rights, the shows are moving with the times and are being put on streaming services. Beginning in the fall with the respective new seasons of both shows, both Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! will be streaming next day for the first time ever on Hulu, Peacock, and Hulu on Disney+.
The power struggle over the shows has been an ongoing battle for months, and is only now being wrapped up by this deal. It may not be ideal, but it shouldn’t be all that surprising really, since most shows are going the streaming route, even if it is just streaming new episodes the next day. But fear not, both Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! will still be available to watch on network television, just like they always have been. It’s a big change, but it’s one that will hopefully be easily adaptable, and will only boost audience ratings and make the shows even better for the years to come.
The new seasons of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! premiere in Sept. 2025.