So why are they striking?

[icarus]

On the WGA strike.

femmequixotic tells us what it's about. The producers/studios won't budge.

The bit in the contract that the producers/studios are holding out over? Negotiations that double the writers' residuals on DVDs, bringing it up from four cents per disk to eight--a number that was devised in 1985 because of the high cost of producing VHS tapes--and negotiations that give the writer residuals on new media and Internet downloads--which they don't get at all right now. The studios have suggested that Internet residuals should be the same as the current DVD residuals. For content that doesn't cost anything to put on a media format.

WGA cooperated, took the DVD residual increase off the table. But the studios still wouldn't budge on Internet downloads.

I suspect the studios are holding out because they hope that with the increase Internet downloads (we all know that's where the DVD rental market is going to go), they can hang on to an increasing margin of profits. If they can do it, the writers won't get jack for their work as DVDs and VHS tapes are replaced by online downloads.

Greedy bastards.

From where I sit, producers want a bigger slice of the pie with an eye to long-term profits. They're willing to kill a few shows and hang on the fan albatross on the WGA's neck. And, oh, hey lookie. Guess who owns a lot of the media outfits that are covering the story?

Comments

[fractalreality.livejournal.com]

It's interesting to note that the majority of completely Canadian-based shows have been picked up for another season; SGA on the basis of its popularity, yes, but the rest? I'd say not so much.

Likewise, the shows outsourced will rise - as with what happened last time, they will simply try and get UK, Canadian and other writers to step in and write - perhaps on pilot ideas so their continuity on shows wont be jeopardised.

I agree wholeheartedly with the strike and, if anything, it'll mean a lot of rubbish shows won't clog up the system for a while and maybe even a few maybes rushed into production that they wouldn't have taken a chance on before.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Ah, interesting point.

[titti]

I'm not defending the Studios, but I can see why they are doing it:

1. The actors contract is up in another three months, and the Teamsters is next. If they give in to the writers, they'll have to do the same in the next 2 contracts. The president of the actors union already said that they are getting what the writers are.

2. Reality TV gives them more revenues with less expenses. Last time it happened, we saw the birth of reality TV. This time, if it keeps going for long, we'll see American Idol 5 times a week.

Now, don't think that I'm supporting this, because I've yet to see any reality show, and I plan to keep it this way, but for people who are interested in the bottom line, it makes perfect sense.

3. Studios have planned to use shows from their sisters channels. So NBC is planning to rerun Battlestar Galactica. They have bought/planning to buy shows from the BBC which are cheaper.

So yeah, I can see many reasons, why the Studios won't budge.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I happen to know through relatives the union negotiator for Actor's Equity. She's not going to give an inch and she clobbered GE when they took over NBC. Equity is powerful because it doesn't include just the actors but the sound techs and cameramen and everyone else in the field. I think the WGA should merge with Equity.

Icarus

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. The issues that affect the actors and the writers seem to line up a lot. Maybe in the past that wasn't true, but now the residuals and new distribution issues affect both sides. I would love to see them team up, it would give both sides more clout.

[stewardess.livejournal.com]

The studios claim they are not sure about offering residuals on downloads because they're not sure if the Intarweb will take off. Seriously.