Writers' Strike: Our Long National Nightmare May Almost Be Over

In informal talks, negotiators for the guild and the studios have agreed to a pay structure for internet streaming (although, both sides are keeping mum on what exactly that structure will be). Internet distribution was central to the dispute, which means the strike may be over this week.

The key provision settled on Friday, according to the New York Times, was what to do about streaming content. The paper said the AMPTP members wanted to pay a flat fee of $1,200 for one year of streaming, as in the directors' contract.

Writers wanted 1.2 percent of the distributor's total streaming revenue. How that issue was resolved was not exactly clear, said the newspaper.

Any breakthrough would calm the worried U.S. media industry. The Los Angeles Economic Development Corp has estimated the strike cost the region's film and TV industry at least $650 million in wages, with over $1 billion more in lost earnings attributed to a ripple effect on the local economy.

Why do I care? I watch a lot of television. I'm not one of those folks who fashionably pooh-poohs modern television and movie content. But mostly, because I want to see the end of Battlestar Galactica before 2010.

posted by Gabriel Malor at 10:20 PM

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