Suzanne Prete has been promoted to president, game shows, Sony Pictures Television (SPT), Ravi Ahuja, chairman of global television studios and corporate development at SPT, said Thursday. 

SPT established its game-show group two years ago, and the new division focused on expanding its well-known game-show brands, including Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune and other franchises. 

“Under Suzanne’s leadership, our game show division has excelled beyond even our lofty expectations,” Ahuja said. “The team has expanded SPT’s established franchises and leveraged our extensive library of formats to create innovative ‘radical reboots,’ while simultaneously developing original content for today’s buyers and audiences.” 

Over the past two years, Prete and her team worked closely with Disney-owned ABC to renew both of its powerhouse access game shows, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, for five more years, taking both shows through the 2027-28 season. The division also has been actively spinning off shows from both brands to air on ABC’s primetime. These new series include Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, Celebrity Jeopardy! and Jeopardy! Masters.

Prete has been at Sony Pictures Television for 29 years, during which time she expanded the studio’s game show ancillary businesses through strategic licensing deals, in-show product integrations, and business partnerships. This includes a multi-year agreement with IGT that puts Wheel of Fortune in casinos and on lottery tickets. 

Prete and her team recently produced a U.S. adaptation of Raid the Cage, hosted by Damon Wayans Jr., for CBS, and they oversee The $100,000 Pyramid, hosted by Michael Strahan, on ABC. That show is currently in its seventh season. 

On the heels of CBS’s renewal of long-running drama S.W.A.T., Sony Pictures Television is taking the show to the syndication market for a second cycle, starting next fall, Sony said Wednesday. 

Cycle two would be for two years — from fall 2023 until fall 2025 — with a possibility of being renewed for a third cycle should the show continue to perform. The show’s first five seasons are currently in their first cycle on TV stations in weekend off-network syndication and the second cycle would incorporate season six. According to SPT, S.W.A.T. grew more than any other weekly off-network hour last season and was the only weekly to grow among men 18-49. 

“On network, S.W.A.T. has been one of the top shows in attracting a diverse audience, and we’ve seen that translate into syndication,“ SPT senior VP and general sales manager, U.S. syndication sales Zack Hernandez said in a statement. “Due to the action-oriented nature of the series, it has also been a natural fit for sports adjacencies. The show has done a great job of finding an audience wherever it is, and we look forward to taking it out for a second cycle.” 

“Between its season-six pickup and solid network performance, S.W.A.T. has a tremendous amount of momentum,“ said Flory Bramnick, EVP, U.S. distribution, SPT, also in a statement. “Now with a strong first cycle in syndication, we’re seeing a growing appetite for the show and believe it has a long, bright future in syndication.”  

The drama — which stars Shemar Moore, David Lim, Alex Russell, Jay Harrington and Lina Esco — is produced by Sony Pictures Television and CBS Studios. It is executive produced by Shawn Ryan, Andy Dettmann, Justin Lin, Neal Moritz, Marney Hochman, Pavun Shetty, Billy Gierhart and Paul Bernard. The show was developed for television by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and Ryan. ▪️

Steve Mosko, president of Sony Pictures Television (SPT), has been named chairman of the company. He will continue to oversee all television operations for Sony Pictures Entertainment worldwide, reporting to Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton.   

“Under Steve’s leadership, Sony Pictures Television has become the industry’s largest independent television studio,” Lynton said. “Our media networks business has expanded to over 150 channel feeds around the world, and the company is well-positioned for growth in both production and distribution. Steve is a remarkable executive and we are proud to have him at the helm of Sony Pictures Television.” 

Mosko oversees global television production, distribution of feature film and television content, and the studio's international networks available in 180 countries. SPT-produced series include Breaking Bad,Masters of Sex, The Blacklist, The Player and Shark Tank.

“I am honored to be named chairman, and grateful to Michael, my colleagues at Sony Pictures, and to the incredible team at Sony Pictures Television,” Mosko said.

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.