Clear-com has announced that the production teams for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! have added Clear-Com FreeSpeak wireless and Arcadia Central Station to upgrade their production communications.

Audio Masterpiece’s Gary Vahling, who has worked in the professional audio industry since the early 1990s, served as the lead systems partner for the project. Known for his meticulous preparation and hands-on testing approach, Vahling made sure the communications system was fully validated before deployment, minimizing risk and guaranteeing reliability once it reached the studio floor.

Chris Savage, technical manager and project lead for both shows, oversaw the system design and installation.

“Both shows share a control room but have stages that are effectively miles apart due to walls, pathways, and even parking lots,” Savage explained. “We needed a system that could handle extensive travel between the control room and the stages without a single dropout, and that’s exactly what we achieved.”

The production team on Wheel of Fortune requested a more flexible and channel-rich system to accommodate a technically savvy crew with increased monitoring needs. Clear-Com integrated a combination of FreeSpeak II and FreeSpeak Icon systems, leveraging Bluetooth-enabled beltpacks for maximum ease-of-use, even for executives with minimal technical experience.

For Jeopardy!, reliability and streamlined communication were equally critical in supporting the show’s fast-paced production environment, where timing, contestant coordination, and precision cueing are essential, Clear-com said. The Clear-Com setup provides dedicated wireless coverage across the stage and production areas, giving crew members instant, uninterrupted communication throughout tapings.

The system now supports 30 FreeSpeak II beltpacks and 6 Icon beltpacks for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, with easy intersystem connectivity.

The upgrade also included Arcadia Central Station, allowing full interoperability with existing Dante-enabled audio networks. This approach enabled lighting and PA crews to continue using legacy FreeSpeak II beltpacks while taking advantage of FreeSpeak Icon’s advanced capabilities.

“The goal was a system that would last for years and scale with evolving production needs,” said Savage. “The team at Clear-Com, working closely with our Partners, delivered a solution that was simple and useful. From control room to stage, operators experienced zero downtime, even during high-pressure live productions.”

CULVER CITY, Calif.—The U.S. Postal Service is celebrating the life and legacy of "Jeopardy” host Alex Trebek with the launch of a new Forever stamp. The dedication ceremony was held at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City.

"Millions of Americans invited Alex Trebek into their living rooms each weeknight," said Michael Elston, secretary of the USPS Board of Governors. "After thousands of shows over 37 seasons, he was someone we trusted and felt like we knew. And with his intelligence and wit, he made it cool to be smart."

Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Alex Trebek became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1998. He began hosting the syndicated series "Jeopardy" in 1984,. 

"It's so appropriate that the stamp illustration commemorates Alex with a 'Jeopardy' clue. He loved the game so much, and he always insisted the clues were the true star of the show," said current "Jeopardy" host Ken Jennings. "Alex Trebek was an American institution and so it makes perfect sense to honor him on a postage stamp. And of course, I had to geek out when I saw that the full sheet of stamps looks like a 'Jeopardy' game board!"

Trebek was devoted to charity work, notably making many trips to Africa, Asia and South America with child welfare organization, World Vision, which focused on alleviating poverty and hunger. He donated 62 acres of land in the Hollywood Hills, the Trebek Open Space, to protect natural habitat and offer trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Trebek and his family also donated significantly to transform a closed North Hollywood roller rink into the Trebek Center, a facility to serve those experiencing homelessness.

Among numerous honors, he won a lifetime achievement Emmy Award and eight Daytime Emmys for outstanding game show host. After a brave public battle with pancreatic cancer, he died on Nov. 8, 2020. 

Sony Pictures Stage 10, where "Jeopardy" is still taped, has been renamed the Alex Trebek Stage.

"Jeopardy" is produced by Sony Pictures Television (SPT). In April, SPT launched the 60th Diamond Celebration, a campaign bringing fans a year filled with engaging experiences, limited-edition merchandise and more to celebrate the show's remarkable legacy. For more information, visit: jeopardy.com/60th-diamond-celebration. 

"My family and I were completely surprised about Alex being honored by the U.S. Postal Service. It is a such an extraordinary honor and a wonderful way to recognize what Alex meant to so many people," said Trebek's wife, Jean Trebek. "Alex would be over the moon about this distinctive honor and, he'd feel very humbled. I think the stamp design is very creative because Alex Trebek is the answer to all the clues."

The grid of 20 stamps evokes the bank of video monitors that forms the "Jeopardy" game board. Each stamp reads "This Naturalized U.S. Citizen Hosted The Quiz Show 'jeopardy' For 37 Seasons." Underneath, upside down, is the correct response: "Who is Alex Trebek?" Antonio Alcalá was the art director and designer for the stamp project, using photography provided by Sony Pictures Entertainment and hand lettering by Marti Davila.

WASHINGTON—“Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” will be inducted to the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame April 9, 2018, during the NAB Show Achievement in Broadcasting Dinner, NAB announced this week.

“Both ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and ‘Jeopardy!’ have stood the test of time and represent the enduring power of broadcasting,” said NAB EVP of Television Marcellus Alexander, in an NAB press release.

Together the syndicated shows, both produced by Sony Pictures Television Studios and distributed by CBS Television Distribution, have produced more than 13,000 episodes.

“Wheel of Fortune” was created by Merv Griffin in 1975 as an NBC daytime show. Based on the game Hangman, the show is in its 35th season of syndication. More than 25 million viewers watch weekly. Host Pat Sajak and co-host Vanna White have received various awards and accolades, including three Emmy Awards for Sajak and recognition by Guinness World Record organization as “Most Frequent Hand Clapper” for White.

“Jeopardy!” is in its 34th season of syndication. Every week, 23 million viewers watch the show. Host Alex Trebek has won various honors, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS).

Harry Friedman, who also has been recognized by NATAS with a Lifetime Achievement Award, is the executive producer of the shows. He has a track record of creating innovative game elements and using new technology. Both became the first syndicated shows to be broadcast in high definition in September 2006, the NAB release said.

More information is available on the NAB Show website.