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Unions seek video iPod residuals

Summary: The new iPod is seen during a news conference in San Jose California October 12 2005 If Apple s new video iPod is as successful as expected in delivering paid programming over the Internet Hollywood s unions want their share and are worried about being shortchanged on residuals REUTERS Monica Davey http news yahoo com s nm 20051017 tc nm writers ipod dcUnions seek video iPod residuals By Jesse Hiestand Mon Oct 17 6 35 AM ETLOS ANGELES Hollywood Reporter If Apple s new video iPod is as successful as expected in delivering paid programing over the Internet Hollywood s unions want their share and are worried about being shortchanged on residuals Writers Guild of America West president Patric Verrone was the latest to voice these fears issuing a letter to members Friday that said WGAW and its sister guilds are unwilling to accept the DVD residuals formula which takes most of the money off the table before sharing a set percentage of gross revenue Verrone said he was particularly concerned after an ABC executive suggested that indeed the DVD model might be the most appropriate Make no mistake that formula which significantly discounts the revenue streams upon which the residual is based is clearly not applicable in this case Verrone said Said ABC The guilds are our business partners and we always welcome a dialogue with them on any business related issue that affects their members The unions want to have those discussions in the next few weeks Verrone said he was having lunch with American Federation of Television and Radio Artists AFTRA president John Connolly on Wednesday when both first learned of the new product NEW VIDEO MODELApple hopes to do for video what earlier versions of the iPod did for music especially in making it easy for consumers to buy individual songs and episodes through its iTunes store The initial video offerings include such ABC and Disney Channel series as Desperate Housewives and Lost with episodes being available the day after their initial broadcast for $1 99 apiece Verrone said he and Connolly immediately realized that they as well as Directors Guild of America Screen Actors Guild and WGA East need to ensure that this new distribution system is covered by the appropriate formulas in our respective contracts WGAW continues to believe that the proper formula is the existing one covering pay television That entitles writers to 1 2 of the entire producers gross DGA has an identical formula while SAG gets 3 6 and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees IATSE gets 5 4 The DVD formula by contrast is much less lucrative for all of these guilds because it pays a slightly higher percentage based on only 20 of the wholesale receipts The remaining 80 is withheld by the studios to cover manufacturing distribution and marketing costs The unions feel the DVD model is outdated and fundamentally unfair leading them to demand a greater share in last year s negotiations with the studios and networks The effort was unsuccessful when the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers made it clear that it was willing to endure a strike to protect DVD revenue which has become fundamental to the economics of film and TV production Reuters Hollywood Reporter The new iPod is seen during a news conference in San Jose California October 12 2005 If Apple s new video iPod is as successful as expected in delivering paid programming over the Internet Hollywood s unions want their share and are worried about being shortchanged on residuals REUTERS Monica Davey http news yahoo com s nm 20051017 tc nm writers ipod dcUnions seek video iPod residuals By Jesse Hiestand Mon Oct 17 6 35 AM ETLOS ANGELES Hollywood Reporter If Apple s new video iPod is as successful as expected in delivering paid programing over the Internet Hollywood s unions want their share and are worried about being shortchanged on residuals Writers Guild of America West president Patric Verrone was the latest to voice these fears issuing a letter to members Friday that said WGAW and its sister guilds are unwilling to accept the DVD residuals formula which takes most of the money off the table before sharing a set percentage of gross revenue Verrone said he was particularly concerned after an ABC executive suggested that indeed the DVD model might be the most appropriate Make no mistake that formula which significantly discounts the revenue streams upon which the residual is based is clearly not applicable in this case Verrone said Said ABC The guilds are our business partners and we always welcome a dialogue with them on any business related issue that affects their members The unions want to have those discussions in the next few weeks Verrone said he was having lunch with American Federation of Television and Radio Artists AFTRA president John Connolly on Wednesday when both first learned of the new product NEW VIDEO MODELApple hopes to do for video what earlier versions of the iPod did for music especially in making it easy for consumers to buy individual songs and episodes through its iTunes store The initial video offerings include such ABC and Disney Channel series as Desperate Housewives and Lost with episodes being available the day after their initial broadcast for $1 99 apiece Verrone said he and Connolly immediately realized that they as well as Directors Guild of America Screen Actors Guild and WGA East need to ensure that this new distribution system is covered by the appropriate formulas in our respective contracts WGAW continues to believe that the proper formula is the existing one covering pay television That entitles writers to 1 2 of the entire producers gross DGA has an identical formula while SAG gets 3 6 and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees IATSE gets 5 4 The DVD formula by contrast is much less lucrative for all of these guilds because it pays a slightly higher percentage based on only 20 of the wholesale receipts The remaining 80 is withheld by the studios to cover manufacturing distribution and marketing costs The unions feel the DVD model is outdated and fundamentally unfair leading them to demand a greater share in last year s negotiations with the studios and networks The effort was unsuccessful when the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers made it clear that it was willing to endure a strike to protect DVD revenue which has become fundamental to the economics of film and TV production Reuters Hollywood Reporter

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