Hollywood writers will strike after last-ditch talks called by a federal mediator failed.
Writers and studios broke off talks late Sunday after East Coast members of the writers union declared they were officially on strike, the group representing producers said.
Last-ditch negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers ended after about 11 hours.
Producers said writers refused a request to "stop the clock" on a planned strike while talks continued.
"It is unfortunate that they choose to take this irresponsible action," producers said in a statement.
Producers said writers were not willing to compromise on their major demands.
The writers union confirmed that talks had ended and that members would strike, but did not have any further comment.
The guild earlier announced sweeping plans to picket every major studio in Los Angeles, along with Rockefeller Center in New York, where NBC is headquartered.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers previously called a writers' strike "precipitous and irresponsible."
The guilds had been preparing for these negotiations for years, hiring staff with extensive labor union experience, and developing joint strategies and a harder line than producers have seen in decades.
"We haven't shown particular resolve in past negotiations," said John Bowman, the WGA's chief negotiator.
"The sea change is that this is an enormously galvanizing issue and two, that the new regime at the guild actually has a plan, has an organization and a structure to respond to something."
The writers are the first union to bargain for a new deal this year. Their contract expired Wednesday.
In past years, actors have almost always gone first, although the Directors Guild of America, which is seen as the least aggressive of the three guilds, has sometimes taken the lead. Whatever deal was struck first was usually accepted by the others.
The guilds are aware that if writers fail to win concessions involving DVDs and the Internet, actors may have to take up the fight.
"This is an issue that touches every member of this guild and every member of the Screen Actors Guild as well," said Carlton Cuse, executive producer of the ABC drama "Lost."
Consumers are expected to spend $16.4 billion on DVDs this year, according to Adams Media Research.
By contrast, studios could generate only $158 million from selling movies online and about $194 million from selling TV shows over the Web, although those numbers are expected to skyrocket in coming years.
Writers only get about 3 cents on a typical DVD retailing for $20.
Studios argue that it is too early to know how much money they can make from offering entertainment on the Internet, cell phones, iPods and other devices.
Hollywood unions have long regretted a decision made in 1984 to accept a small percentage of home video sales because studios said the technology was untested and that costs were high.
The guilds have tried and failed for two decades to increase video payments, even as DVDs have become more profitable for studios than box office receipts.
The first casualty of the strike would be late-night talk shows, which are dependent on current events to fuel monologues and other entertainment.
Daytime TV, including live talk shows such as "The View" and soap operas, which typically tape about a week's worth of shows in advance, would be next to feel the impact.
The strike will not immediately impact production of movies or prime-time TV programs. Most studios have stockpiled dozens of movie scripts, and TV shows have enough scripts or completed shows in hand to last until early next year.
http://www.yahoo.com/s/727096
This probably means, no new South park this Wednesday. A couple of my favorite shows like "Heroes" is going to end early, and they've apparently shot a new ending for the last episode to air December 3rd, and LOST may be affected the same way.
The last strike which was almost 20 years ago lasted 22 weeks. So this may take awhile.
Writers and studios broke off talks late Sunday after East Coast members of the writers union declared they were officially on strike, the group representing producers said.
Last-ditch negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers ended after about 11 hours.
Producers said writers refused a request to "stop the clock" on a planned strike while talks continued.
"It is unfortunate that they choose to take this irresponsible action," producers said in a statement.
Producers said writers were not willing to compromise on their major demands.
The writers union confirmed that talks had ended and that members would strike, but did not have any further comment.
The guild earlier announced sweeping plans to picket every major studio in Los Angeles, along with Rockefeller Center in New York, where NBC is headquartered.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers previously called a writers' strike "precipitous and irresponsible."
The guilds had been preparing for these negotiations for years, hiring staff with extensive labor union experience, and developing joint strategies and a harder line than producers have seen in decades.
"We haven't shown particular resolve in past negotiations," said John Bowman, the WGA's chief negotiator.
"The sea change is that this is an enormously galvanizing issue and two, that the new regime at the guild actually has a plan, has an organization and a structure to respond to something."
The writers are the first union to bargain for a new deal this year. Their contract expired Wednesday.
In past years, actors have almost always gone first, although the Directors Guild of America, which is seen as the least aggressive of the three guilds, has sometimes taken the lead. Whatever deal was struck first was usually accepted by the others.
The guilds are aware that if writers fail to win concessions involving DVDs and the Internet, actors may have to take up the fight.
"This is an issue that touches every member of this guild and every member of the Screen Actors Guild as well," said Carlton Cuse, executive producer of the ABC drama "Lost."
Consumers are expected to spend $16.4 billion on DVDs this year, according to Adams Media Research.
By contrast, studios could generate only $158 million from selling movies online and about $194 million from selling TV shows over the Web, although those numbers are expected to skyrocket in coming years.
Writers only get about 3 cents on a typical DVD retailing for $20.
Studios argue that it is too early to know how much money they can make from offering entertainment on the Internet, cell phones, iPods and other devices.
Hollywood unions have long regretted a decision made in 1984 to accept a small percentage of home video sales because studios said the technology was untested and that costs were high.
The guilds have tried and failed for two decades to increase video payments, even as DVDs have become more profitable for studios than box office receipts.
The first casualty of the strike would be late-night talk shows, which are dependent on current events to fuel monologues and other entertainment.
Daytime TV, including live talk shows such as "The View" and soap operas, which typically tape about a week's worth of shows in advance, would be next to feel the impact.
The strike will not immediately impact production of movies or prime-time TV programs. Most studios have stockpiled dozens of movie scripts, and TV shows have enough scripts or completed shows in hand to last until early next year.
http://www.yahoo.com/s/727096
This probably means, no new South park this Wednesday. A couple of my favorite shows like "Heroes" is going to end early, and they've apparently shot a new ending for the last episode to air December 3rd, and LOST may be affected the same way.
The last strike which was almost 20 years ago lasted 22 weeks. So this may take awhile.
