US court closes on 'Millionaire' ruling

A US court is reportedly close to reaching a verdict in a long-running legal battle between Celador and Disney over alleged unpaid profits from the US version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.

Celador, which launched the Chris Tarrant-fronted gameshow on British TV in 1998, agreed for Disney's ABC network to bring the format to the US in 1999.

However, the British production firm later claimed that Disney had failed to appropriately share out the profits from the show, leading to a six-year legal battle in which Celador is seeking up to $395m (£260m) in damages.

Over the past three weeks, a court in Riverside, near Los Angeles, has heard testimony from a range of Disney executives about the financial workings behind the show.

Judge Virginia Phillips is now thought to have told lawyers for both sides to remain close to the court as a verdict could be close.

In its case, Celador has argued its entitlement to 50% of the profits from Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, which ran for five-nights a week in primetime on ABC at the height of its popularity.

Disney's lawyers say that the British firm received $19.2m (£12.6m) in production fees, but Celador claims that it only earned modest returns compared to the show's overall profits. The two companies are also arguing over merchandising revenues.

The US version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? was initially hosted by gameshow veteran Regis Philbin, but is now fronted by daytime TV star Meredith Vieira.