Writers Strike

[Ktrek]

I guess we all figured Bionic Woman wouldn't make it but I am dissapointed that there will be no more Chuck until the fall.

Kevin

[jedijeff]

To be honest, I was hoping the Bionic woman would have come back, as I was starting to really enjoy it, so I guess it is a bit of a surprise to me. Chuck I never watched so I guess if it is cancelled or comes back doesn't concern me as I don't plan to watch in the future. Surprised that some shows are considering more shows this season, I would have thought there would not have been time. Happy if that is the case, but if I have to wait until the fall, I can do that as well.

[Geekyfanboy]

**BREAKING NEWS** Writer's Strike Is Over

The nearly 4-month long writer's strike is offer as it is highly expected that members will vote to accept the contract worked out between the leadership of the WGA and AMPTP.

TV writers that also share duties as producers and showrunners will return to work today (Mon. Feb. 11), while the rest of the 12,000 members of the Guild begin filtering back into their respective offices on Wednesday of this week.

Work will immediately begin on all the new shows slated to return to fulfill their seasons, as well as shows returning for their remaining seasons, however it could be up to a month or even longer before anything new is seen on the small screen.

The return of the writers also guarantees a smooth return of the Academy Awards ceremony that will air on February 24th.

WGA West prexy Patric Verrone told guild members Sunday to put away their picket signs. The ruling boards of the Writers Guild of America unanimously gave the thumbs-up to a three-year tentative deal with the major studios and networks.

The next step is to get approval by members on lifting the strike. Members will vote by fax or in person at specified meetings; the vote concludes Tuesday night. It is expected to pass without difficulty.

After that, the members will be asked in a separate vote whether to OK the new three-year deal, according to Variety. Those ballots go out in the next few days, with a 10- to 12-day return period, however workers can still be expected to return to work this week. If, in some unforeseen circumstance, the members reject the offer, then they could be back on the picket lines in two weeks. However, the WGA leadership is fairly confident that members will vote to accept the offer.

There is one cautionary note. Some issues regarding the New Media compensation points are still being worked out by Guild leaders and AMPTP lawyers. Also the new contract doesn't address those who were force majeure'd from overall deals and other contracts if they were not working on a series that will resume production.

[Geekyfanboy]

I got this from the Slice of Sci Fi website.

WGA Contract Details

The 12,000 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) voted today (Sunday) and again tomorrow (Monday) on whether or not to accept the proposed contract agreed to by their leadership with the Alliance of Motion Pictures & Television Producers (AMPTP).

Here are a few of the details of that contract agreement as we received them tonight:

SUMMARY OF THE TENTATIVE 2008 WGA THEATRICAL AND TELEVISION BASIC AGREEMENT

This is not a complete summary. The Memorandum of Agreement shall prevail in the case of any inconsistency..

Term of Agreement From resumption of work through May 1, 2011

Minimums Minimum rates generally increase 3.5% each year. The exceptions are: network prime time rates and daytime serial script fees increase 3.0% each period; program fees and the upset price increase once by 3% in the second year; and clip fees increase once by 5% in the third year.

Writing for Made-for New Media –

Coverage: The WGA is recognized as the exclusive bargaining representative for writing for new media (such as Internet or cellular technology). Writing for new media is covered by the MBA if:

(1) it is written by a "professional writer" (anyone with a single TV or screen credit, 13 weeks of employment in TV, film or radio, a professionally produced stage play credit or a published novel)

or

(2) the program is derivative of an MBA-covered program

or

(3) if the budget is above any of three thresholds: $15,000 per minute; $300,000 per program; or $500,000 per series order. If initially not covered due to the projected budget but later costs
exceed a threshold, the program/series is covered retroactively.

Compensation: If a new media program is derivative of an MBA-covered program, minimums for initial compensation apply. The minimum for derivative dramatic programs is $618 for programs up to two minutes, plus $309 for each additional minute. The minimum for derivative
comedy-variety and daytime serials is $360 for programs up to two minutes, plus $180 for each additional minute. The minimum for all other types of derivative programs is $309 for programs up to two minutes, plus $155 for each additional minute. Regardless of the length of the program initial compensation can be no less than the two minute rate. For original programs initial compensation is negotiable.

Pension and Health Insurance: MBA pension and health provisions apply to all covered writing for new media programs.

Credits: The Guild shall determine credits on all covered new media programs. Credits must appear on-screen (or on a link to the program) if anyone else receives such credit. Television Reuse: If a covered new media program is reused in traditional media, the usual residuals for a television program apply with minor modifications.

Separated Rights: Creators of original new media material are protected as follows:

(1) If you create an Internet program that becomes a TV series or feature film which you write, traditional separated rights apply.

(2) If you write original material for an Internet program and the Company wants to use it for a TV series or feature film to be written by someone else, the Company must purchase rights from you. The Company may acquire the rights at any time, but separate compensation must be paid. If you want to sell those rights to another studio, the Company has a right of first refusal.

(3) If you create an Internet program that is the equivalent of a traditional TV series (over $25,000 per minute and 20 minutes in length) you are entitled to the same rights as in (2) above, plus sequel payments for each Internet episode based on your program.

Internet Residuals: Initial compensation covers writing services and 13 weeks of availability in new media when the viewer does not pay, and 26 weeks of availability in new media when the viewer pays. After those periods, certain residuals are payable: (i) if a new media program derived from an MBA-covered program or an original new media program with a budget higher than $25,000 per minute is reused in new media, the new media reuse provisions described below apply, except that electronic sell-through is paid at 1.2% of distributor's gross receipts; and (ii) for original new media programs, the residual for ad-supported streaming is negotiable, while reuse where the viewer pays is compensated at 1.2% of distributor's gross receipts.

Other Guild Provisions: A number of standard guild provisions apply to all covered new media programs: Guild shop (writers must join the WGA), no-strike/no-lockout, grievance and arbitration, and timely payment.

Reuse in New Media Distributor's Gross Receipts: All revenue-based residuals in new media employ a definition of "distributor's gross" which eliminates the accounting uncertainty inherent in the concept of "producer's gross" as found in the home video/DVD formula.

Download Rentals: If the viewer pays for limited new media access to a program, residuals are paid at the rate of 1.2% of distributor's gross receipts.

Download Sales (Electronic Sell-Through): If the viewer pays for permanent use of the program, residuals are paid at 0.36% of distributor's gross receipts for the first 100,000 downloads of a
television program and the first 50,000 downloads of a feature. After that, residuals are paid at 0.7% of distributor's gross receipts for television programs and 0.65% for feature films.

Theatrical Ad-Supported Streaming: Ad-supported streaming of feature films produced after July 1, 1971 is payable at 1.2% of distributor's gross receipts.

Television Ad-Supported Streaming (Library): Ad-supported streaming of television programs produced after 1977 (and a small number produced prior to 1977) are payable at 2% of distributor's gross receipts.

Television Ad-Supported Streaming (New Programs): Ad-supported streaming of television programs is payable at 2% of distributor's gross receipts one year from the end of an initial streaming window.

Initial Streaming Window: There is an initial window of 17 days (24 days for episodes of the first season of a series, one-off television programs, and MOWs) with no residual. This window must include or occur contiguous to the initial television exhibition.

Residual Payment (Network Prime Time): In the first and second years of this contract, after the initial window, for network prime time television programs, a fixed residual of 3% of the residual base ("applicable minimum") is paid for each of up to two 26-week periods. For an hour
program, this fee is $654 per period in the first year of the contract; $677 per period in the second year. For a half-hour the figures are $360 and $373. In the third year of this contract, the 2% of distributor's gross formula is applied immediately after the initial streaming window. The contract sets an imputed value for up to 26 weeks of such distributor's gross at $40,000 for an hour program and $20,000 for a half hour program. So, for the third year the formula pays a residual of $800 for an hour program and $400 for a half hour program for each potential 26-week period in the year after the initial streaming window. If the Network's exclusivity expires prior to one year after the end of the initial window, the 2% of distributor's gross receipts begins without the imputed value. In the case of a 26-week period being truncated by the end of the year after the end of the initial streaming window, the payment is prorated.

Residual Payment (All Other Programs): After the initial streaming window, a fixed residual of 3% of the residual base (the "applicable minimum") is paid for each of up to two 26-week periods in the first two years of this contract. In the third year of this contract, the payment rate rises to 3.5% of the residual base.

Fair Market Value: New media residuals based on transactions between related parties are
subject to a test of reasonableness when compared to transactions between unrelated parties.

Access to Information: The companies agree to provide the Guild with access to new media deals and distribution statements, without redaction, and usage data during the term of the
contract.

Clips: Clips are defined as excerpts of less than five minutes for episodic TV or ten minutes for features or long-form TV. A company can use a clip for a promotional purpose without payment.
Where a clip is not promotional and the viewer does not pay, the fee for the clip in new media is paid at the rate of the lesser of $50 or the residual payable under the Reuse Sideletter for a clip under two minutes; the lesser of $150 or the residual payable the Reuse Sideletter for a clip between two and four minutes; and for a clip longer than four minutes, the residual payable under the Reuse Sideletter. Where the viewer pays, the fee for use of a clip is 1.2% of distributor's gross receipts.

Promotion: A clip can be used without payment to promote theatrical, television or new media exhibition if the clip contains "tune-in", rental or purchase information. No payment is due for non-commercial "viral" release of clips from a theatrical or television motion picture. Promotion does not include the use of clips if the primary purpose of the exhibition is to permit viewing of archived or aggregated clips on a new media site (e.g., dailyshow.com).

Pension and Health Fund Provisions Health Fund: The contribution rate shall continue to be 6% from the start of the contract through September 30, 2008. The contribution rate shall be 8% for the period of October 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009. Thereafter the rate shall return to 6%. A sideletter resolves a pending dispute about the Health Fund contribution rate.

Pension Fund: The contribution rate remains at 6% for this contract.

Contribution Caps: For theatrical motion pictures and long-form television motion pictures, the ceiling on which Pension Plan contributions are based is increased to $225,000 ($450,000 for team of 3). For long-form television motion pictures, the ceiling on which Health Fund contributions are based is increased to $250,000 ($500,000 for a team of 3). A cap of $350,000 ($700,000 for a team of 3) is established as the ceiling on which Pension Plan and Health Fund contributions are based for daytime serial writers.

Other: The Guild and the Companies will jointly fund a study of new IRS regulations. We agreed how contributions will be paid when a writer is employed on a development deal under Article 14.E.2. and, under the same contract, is employed to perform Article 14.K. services on a series for which the writer receives additional money which is not creditable.

Other Provisions Made-for Pay TV Residuals: The annual residual payments increase from $3,000 to $3,500 for a half-hour program and from $5,000 to $6,000 for an hour program.

Product Integration: The company will consult with the showrunner when a commercial product is to be integrated into the storyline of an episode of a dramatic series.

Showrunner Training Program: The AMPTP and Networks will increase funding for this program to: $225,000 for year 1 of the MBA; $150,000 for year 2; and $150,000 for year 3.

Television Recap Clips: The total length of clips that can be used to recap the story in a
60 minute or longer program is extended from 90 seconds to 3 minutes before requiring payment.

Tri-Guild Audit Fund: The companies renew the funding of the Tri-Guild Audit Fund.

Residuals Reporting/Electronic Data Transfer: Each company shall meet with the Guild to establish a method of transfer for electronic reporting of residuals information.

Lists of Arbitrators: Arbitrators were added to the lists by both the Guild and the companies.

Foreign Remakes: Alternative terms were agreed for foreign remakes of MBA-covered scripts.

Limited Syndication of Half-Hour Programs: A little-used sideletter specifying a discounted residual for half hour series in limited syndication was renewed.

Television Separated Rights for a Derivative Theatrical Film: The company has an opportunity to match an offer to purchase feature film rights from the separated rights holder.

Committee on Alternative Digital Broadcast Channels: The Guild agreed to participate in a committee to explore the use of alternative digital broadcast channels.

[jedijeff]

To be honest, I would have thought I would be happier to hear this news then I am. Glad to see that they resolved things, and that some shows will get more episodes this year, but for the most part, I have been getting by with what they have on right now. I guess my only want, is for the full 16 episodes of Lost for this season, everything else I am more then happy to wait until next year. Hopefully the people who worked in the industry and affected by this due to no fault of their own, can start recovering from this.

[Rico]

Again, I think this settlement now is due to the Academy awards.  There was tremendous pressure to get this ended now.  I have a feeling no one is completely happy with deal.  But, at least maybe now things can resume and people out of work due to the strike can get back to business.

[billybob476]

So this is a completely new collective agreement? Or is it just stopgap until a new one can be properly negotiated?

[Geekyfanboy]

Rumor around town is that the Writers were pressured to sign something because SAG is going on strike in May...

[billybob476]

Ugh. No comment on a SAG strike from me.

[Bryancd]

The writers caved and this was a save face deal.