Negotiators for the screenwriters union in Hollywood have announced that they are recommending a strike in a dispute over royalty payments.
Negotiators for the screenwriters union in Hollywood have announced that they are recommending a strike in a dispute over royalty payments.
A strike is expected to have a big impact on US film and TV production and will be the first industrial action of its kind for nearly 20 years.
A strike is expected to have a big impact on US film and TV production and will be the first industrial action of its kind for nearly 20 years.
Union leaders will meet simultaneously in New York and Los Angeles on Friday to approve the move.
Union leaders will meet simultaneously in New York and Los Angeles on Friday to approve the move.
The strike threat comes after talks with producers broke down.
The strike threat comes after talks with producers broke down.
Negotiators for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) had met the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on Wednesday, hours before an existing agreement expired.
Negotiators for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) had met the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on Wednesday, hours before an existing agreement expired.
Writers are demanding an increase in the fees they receive when their work is reproduced on DVDs, the internet, mobile phones and other electronic devices.
Writers are demanding an increase in the fees they receive when their work is reproduced on DVDs, the internet, mobile phones and other electronic devices.
Producers reject their demands as unworkable.
Producers reject their demands as unworkable.
'Now or never'
'Now or never'
Some of the most popular shows on US television could be forced off the air if writers go ahead with the strike, the BBC's Peter Bowes reports from Los Angeles.
Some of the most popular shows on US television could be forced off the air if writers go ahead with the strike, the BBC's Peter Bowes reports from Los Angeles.
Hollywood writers fear networks will resort to repeats and reality shows
Hollywood writers fear networks will resort to repeats and reality shows
Five thousand members of the WGA recently took part in a ballot and 90% voted in favour of industrial action.
Five thousand members of the WGA recently took part in a ballot and 90% voted in favour of industrial action.
The dispute focuses attention on the rapidly growing market for on-demand entertainment.
The dispute focuses attention on the rapidly growing market for on-demand entertainment.
"The guild has never had the resolve to go the distance," said Harris Goldberg, screenwriter of Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo.
"The guild has never had the resolve to go the distance," said Harris Goldberg, screenwriter of Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo.
"They feel that if they don't do it now, they're never going to be able to do it again."
"They feel that if they don't do it now, they're never going to be able to do it again."
Another writer, Dave Garrett, told the Associated Press that there were cheers when the strike announcement was made at a closed-door session:
Another writer, Dave Garrett, told the Associated Press that there were cheers when the strike announcement was made at a closed-door session:
"There was a unified feeling in the room. I don't think anyone wants the strike, but people are behind the negotiation committee."
"There was a unified feeling in the room. I don't think anyone wants the strike, but people are behind the negotiation committee."
'DVD roadblock'
'DVD roadblock'
The AMPTP said no progress was possible "for overriding business reasons" as long as writers insisted on increasing royalties from DVD sales.
The AMPTP said no progress was possible "for overriding business reasons" as long as writers insisted on increasing royalties from DVD sales.
"We are ready to meet at any time and remain committed to reaching a fair and reasonable deal that keeps the industry working, but the DVD issue is a roadblock to these negotiations," said J Nicholas Counter, the AMPTP's president, added.
"We are ready to meet at any time and remain committed to reaching a fair and reasonable deal that keeps the industry working, but the DVD issue is a roadblock to these negotiations," said J Nicholas Counter, the AMPTP's president, added.
The effects of any strike would not be felt immediately, our correspondent says.
The effects of any strike would not be felt immediately, our correspondent says.
In fact it could be months before the TV networks run out of programmes that have already been made.
In fact it could be months before the TV networks run out of programmes that have already been made.
But if the dispute drags on, Hollywood analysts expect the supply of shows such as Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty and CSI to fizzle out by next spring.
But if the dispute drags on, Hollywood analysts expect the supply of shows such as Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty and CSI to fizzle out by next spring.
Many writers fear the TV networks will simply turn to more repeats and reality programmes to fill the gap left by scripted shows.
Many writers fear the TV networks will simply turn to more repeats and reality programmes to fill the gap left by scripted shows.
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