Culver City-based Sony said it would send new episodes directly to television stations, escalating the contract dispute with CBS. Paramount-owned CBS said it would go to court to try to block Sony's action.

Sony Pictures Television says it’s taking over the distribution rights for top game shows Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! from Paramount -owned CBS starting the week of February 10th, reports Bloomberg, while CBS is fighting back by seeking a temporary restraining order.

The trade site notes that Sony and CBS are currently legally entangled over their decades-old original agreements. In complaints filed last fall, Sony Pictures TV alleged that CBS' management of the game shows resulted in losing revenue and goodwill around the programs.

The fight between Sony and CBS over 'Wheel of Fortune' and 'Jeopardy' intenisifies as Sony aims to take over distribution of the shows by next week.

The studio says it will take over distribution of the two popular game shows next week and amends an earlier lawsuit in the matter.

Sony Pictures Television has assumed global distribution functions for syndicated TV game shows "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" citing failure by CBS Studios to live up to contract terms, the company said in a letter to CBS on Monday.