Corday Productions Inc. announced Wednesday that it is suing Sony Pictures Television to try and end its 54-year relationship with the distributor of its longtime soap opera “Days of our Lives.”
The Los Angeles Superior Court complaint alleges that Sony has intentionally sought to destroy the series so that its wholly-owned daytime series “The Young and The Restless” will have no competition in foreign markets.
A Sony representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to the complaint, Sony was bent on a campaign to destroy “Days,” effectively ceasing its efforts to market and distribute the daytime serial that has been owned and produced by the Corday family since debuting on NBC in 1965.
“It’s extremely sad that a partnership of 54 years that was first forged in the early 1960s by my parents and what was then Screen Gems Television, and is now Sony, has deteriorated to this level,” Corday President Ken Corday said. “Our action today comes after deep diligent reflection. It is absolutely necessary to bring the current untenable situation out into the light in order to ensure the future of “Days of our Lives” for its incredible employees and for the hundreds of millions of loyal and dedicated fans worldwide.”
In addition to ending its distribution agreement with Sony, Corday Productions is requesting at least $20 million in compensatory damages for lost profits and a additional damages for allegedly putting its interests ahead of those of Corday. The suit also alleges fraud, breach of contract, and unfair competition.
“Days” has won 56 Daytime Emmy Awards over the past half century and three Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series in the past six seasons, according to Corday.