The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has recently announced a new agreement for 2020, which is set to bring significant changes to the entertainment industry. The agreement, which was approved by members of the WGA, comes after months of negotiations between the guild and leading media companies.
The new agreement includes several important points that will have a significant impact on writers and producers working in the entertainment industry. One of the main changes in the new agreement is that writers will now receive higher compensation for streaming services, which have become a major source of revenue for the entertainment industry in recent years. The new agreement will now require companies to pay writers a minimum fee of $26,000 per episode for high budget drama series and $16,000 per episode for half-hour comedies for the first two years of streaming, with thereafter increased by 2%.
Furthermore, the agreement will also ensure that writers receive more creative control over their work, particularly in the area of diversity and inclusion. The new agreement requires studios and networks to devote a certain percentage of their budgets to hire writers from underrepresented backgrounds and diverse writers rooms. This move comes in response to the growing demand for more diverse voices in the entertainment industry.
Another significant change in the agreement is the clarification of the “span” of a television series, which outlines the length of time that a writer can be considered “employed” by a show. Under the new agreement, the span for television series has been reduced from 24 weeks to 20 weeks, allowing writers to take on more projects and work with a wider range of producers.
Overall, the new WGA agreement for 2020 represents a major win for writers in the entertainment industry. Not only does it provide writers with higher compensation for streaming services, but it also gives them more creative control over their work and ensures that diverse voices are represented. As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, the WGA will no doubt continue to advocate for writers and strive for a fairer, more equitable industry for all.