Thursday, November 29, 2007

New Deal Coming?

Nikke Finke, on her Deadline Hollywood blog, quotes a source saying that a new deal is being presented by the AMPTP today.

The big change is over the residual schedule for streaming content.  The AMPTP wants six weeks from the date of first broadcast to be royalty-free.  After that six week period, Writers would get a residual, presumably based on a time period (see our previous post about this method).  The AMPTP will not give a piece of advertising.

We think this proposal, if presented as advertised, is COMPLETELY REASONABLE.

Writers already receive a residual for the first airing of an episode (this really only affects TV writers, not features -- what studio streams a theatrical film??).  Perhaps a bump in this residual could be negotiated to compensate for the initial streaming period.

Is six weeks a little long?  Maybe.  But it's still something.  It's certainly not UNreasonable.  And besides, it gives you something to negotiate for in three years.

I am not suggesting that Writers cave and accept this deal.  I'm saying that the deal is good if you really look at it; it's not caving at all.

Let's strike a fair deal and get Hollywood back to work!

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