TORONTO (Canadian Press) - The CBC is dropping its popular but long-contentious U.S. imports ``Wheel of Fortune'' and ``Jeopardy!''
The public broadcaster says the supper-hour game shows will not return as part of the CBC-TV's fall schedule after contracts expire this summer.
A spokesman says CBC will announce replacement series at the network's fall launch next week.
The chop comes as the broadcaster copes with hefty budget cuts that it says has also forced them to shelve ``Battle of the Blades,'' ``Redemption Inc.,'' ``Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays'' and ``Being Erica.''
``Wheel of Fortune'' and ``Jeopardy'' were brought in as lead-ins to Canadian shows under previous CBC English Services boss Richard Stursberg.
Last year, Stursberg's replacement Kirstine Stewart said those shows had successfully brought soaring ratings to the broadcaster and that it was time to weed U.S. imports out of the CBC.