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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Deal 'may end US writers' strike' | Deal 'may end US writers' strike' |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| There is optimism that the writers' strike in the US could be resolved at the weekend, according to reports. | There is optimism that the writers' strike in the US could be resolved at the weekend, according to reports. |
| It is expected a three-year deal will be presented to writers on Saturday, aiming for ratification by Sunday. | It is expected a three-year deal will be presented to writers on Saturday, aiming for ratification by Sunday. |
| The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has been conducting confidential talks with studio bosses to resolve the dispute, which began on 5 November. | The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has been conducting confidential talks with studio bosses to resolve the dispute, which began on 5 November. |
| Scriptwriters want to be paid more for films and TV shows that are downloaded from the internet or sold on DVD. | Scriptwriters want to be paid more for films and TV shows that are downloaded from the internet or sold on DVD. |
| The Los Angeles Times said guild leaders would put the contract to thousands of members at two meetings in Los Angeles and New York. | The Los Angeles Times said guild leaders would put the contract to thousands of members at two meetings in Los Angeles and New York. |
| Approval | Approval |
| If accepted, the WGA's board could approve the contract on Sunday and urge writers back to work the following day, the newspaper added. | If accepted, the WGA's board could approve the contract on Sunday and urge writers back to work the following day, the newspaper added. |
| But industry journal Variety said there was some concern from guild members about the potential deal. | But industry journal Variety said there was some concern from guild members about the potential deal. |
| "I'm going to hear what they have to say on Saturday before I decide," striking writer Jim Kouf told the publication. | "I'm going to hear what they have to say on Saturday before I decide," striking writer Jim Kouf told the publication. |
| class="" href="/1/hi/entertainment/7236188.stm">Striking writers hope for deal | |
| "I do not want us to prematurely accept a bad contract, after everything we've been through." | |
| Any deal would have to be approved by a majority of the guild's active members, which number more than 10,000. | Any deal would have to be approved by a majority of the guild's active members, which number more than 10,000. |
| If agreement is reached, studio executives said it would take about two months for new programmes to emerge. | If agreement is reached, studio executives said it would take about two months for new programmes to emerge. |
| Some experts calculate episodes could cost an extra $200,000 (£102,700) each because of the extra costs to restart production. | Some experts calculate episodes could cost an extra $200,000 (£102,700) each because of the extra costs to restart production. |
| Cancellation risk | Cancellation risk |
| Studios will have to decide which of the 65 affected series will come back, with hits House, CSI, Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives likely to get priority. | Studios will have to decide which of the 65 affected series will come back, with hits House, CSI, Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives likely to get priority. |
| Other series including Cane and Bionic Woman are at risk of cancellation, according to the LA Times. | Other series including Cane and Bionic Woman are at risk of cancellation, according to the LA Times. |
| Movies have been less severely affected because they have longer production times. | Movies have been less severely affected because they have longer production times. |
| Two high profile productions, the Da Vinci Code prequel Angels and Demons and Johnny Depp's Shantaram, could be up and running quickly. | Two high profile productions, the Da Vinci Code prequel Angels and Demons and Johnny Depp's Shantaram, could be up and running quickly. |
| A deal would also guarantee that this month's Academy Awards ceremony will take place as planned on 24 February. | A deal would also guarantee that this month's Academy Awards ceremony will take place as planned on 24 February. |
| The strike has hit film and TV production across the US and caused the cancellation of last month's Golden Globes awards ceremony. | The strike has hit film and TV production across the US and caused the cancellation of last month's Golden Globes awards ceremony. |