Listen: Talks
Breaking News: Studios and SAG-AFTRA Renew Talks, But Revenue-Sharing Proposal “Flopped”
• Studios and SAG-AFTRA renewed talks after suspending them on Oct. 11 over a union plan for additional payouts based on streaming show success.
• The studios proposed a new approach to “success-based compensation” to bypass the complexities of revenue sharing and a “subscriber levy”, believing this mechanism would ensure greater payouts to actors.
• Initial response to the proposal was negative, with one individual close to negotiations describing it as a “flop”.
• Despite lingering tension, both sides completed a full day of deliberations.
• Key figures from both sides present in negotiations included Bob Iger, Donna Langley, David Zaslav, Ted Sarandos, Fran Drescher, and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.
The first day of renewed talks between the studios and SAG-AFTRA has concluded, with plans for further discussions shortly. Following the suspension of talks on Oct. 11 over a union plan for additional payouts based on streaming show success, the negotiations resumed today with the studios presenting new proposals. However, the response to these proposals was less than stellar on the 103rd day of the actors’ union’s strike.
The studios’ negotiating highlight was a new approach to “success-based compensation,” which they deemed generous. This new mechanism aims to bypass the complications of revenue sharing and a “subscriber levy” that have proven contentious in previous discussions. The studios believe this mechanism will ensure greater payouts to cast members.
According to industry sources, the future of these talks depends on how the Guild reacts to this latest offer. However, the initial response to the proposal was negative, with one individual close to the negotiations describing it as a flop.
Despite some less-than-favorable moments and lingering tension over the studios’ previous decision to suspend talks, both sides completed a nearly full day of deliberations. This progress is certainly preferable to no talks at all.
During the negotiations, key figures from both studios and SAG-AFTRA were present, including Bob Iger, Donna Langley, David Zaslav, Ted Sarandos, Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, and others.
This is a developing story, and further updates are expected as discussions continue.