Somto BisinaThe Writers Guild of America (WGA) is set to embark on its first strike in 15 years after negotiations with studios didn’t go through.
In a document released by the guild, the proposed TV staffing minimum is between six to 12 writers per show, based on the number of episodes.
However, the studios have declined to make a counter-offer. The guild also wants a guaranteed minimum number of weeks of employment per season, ranging from 10 weeks to 52 weeks, which was also rejected by the studios.
The guild’s proposals would cost $429 million per year, while the studios’ counter-offers amount to only $86 million per year.
READ ALSO:Strike Looms As Writers Guild Of America Hold Talks With Studios
The two “primary sticking points” are the staffing minimum and the guaranteed minimum weeks of employment. While the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) called these issues out, they said they are willing to increase compensation and streaming residuals.
The guild is also proposing increases in minimums of 6%, 5%, and 5%, while the AMPTP is only offering 4%, 3%, and 2%. Another key proposal from the guild is the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI).
The guild proposes that AI “can’t write or rewrite literary material,” and can’t be “used as source material.” The AMPTP has only agreed to study the issue, according to the guild.
In a statement, the guild leadership stated, “Here is what all writers know: the companies have broken this business… But what they cannot take from us is each other, our solidarity, our mutual commitment to save ourselves and this profession that we love. We had hoped to do this through reasonable conversation.
Now we will do it through struggle. For the sake of our present and our future, we have been given no other choice.” The WGA’s last strike was in 2007-08 and lasted 100 days, costing the industry around $2 billion. This time, the strike could have an even more significant impact given the increased importance of streaming services.
The guild’s demands reflect the growing importance of streaming residuals and the need to regulate AI in the entertainment industry. It remains to be seen whether the two parties can come to an agreement before the strike begins, or whether it will last for an extended period, as in 2007-08.
Which TV Shows Would Face the Effects of the Strike?
The late-night talk shows, including The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, are set to go off the air on Tuesday due to their nightly schedules and topical content. During the 2007-08 strike, all late-night talk shows started airing reruns from the first day of the strike.
The next shows that are likely to be affected are daytime TV shows, particularly soap operas, which usually have an ongoing production schedule.
The last three shows of Saturday Night Live’s season, including the one hosted by Pete Davidson on May 6 and the season finale, are also expected to be affected soon.
Even popular episodic shows may be impacted at some point. According to a recent report by the WGA, “a work stoppage in May could delay the network television season, which continues to account for one third of all episodes produced, including 45% of the episodes produced by legacy media companies Disney, Paramount Global, and Comcast NBCUniversal.
Writers on fall network series typically begin work in May and June in preparation for series premieres in September and October.
Writing for numerous streaming series is also ongoing or is anticipated to begin in the coming months. Any delay in the start of work has the potential to postpone fall season premieres and could ultimately reduce the amount of new programming produced for the 2023-2024 network season.”
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