AFTRA And Studios Reach A Deal; Actors' Consent For Online Usage Agreed To
This story was written by Rafat Ali.
One more hurdle left, with SAG, but the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has agreed to a tentative deal with Hollywood studios on a new three-year contract. The deal includes fees for content streamed and downloaded online, and preserves actors' right of consent on the use of their voices and images in online clips, the two said. This deal may fend of the actros' strike, even as the larger union Screen Actors Guild is set to resume its stalled talks with the studios Wednesday.
From the language in the release, provisions related to digital media:
-- Establishing jurisdiction over programs produced for distribution on the Internet and New Media.
-- Establishing new residual structures for paid Internet downloads (electronic sell-through) that significantly increase current rates and establish residual rates for ad-supported streaming and use of clips on the Internet.
-- Preserving performers' consent for non-promotional New Media use of excerpts of traditional TV shows.
-- Establishing a sunset provision that allows both sides to revisit New Media.
By Rafat Ali