Writers Strike 2023?

[TheBigA]

According to this, if SAG-AFTRA joins the Writers Guild strike, it will be the first time in 63 years that Hollywood has faced two strikes at the same time:

MSN

The last time actors went on strike was in 1980.

“There’s an advent of new technology that’s widely adopted and that’s where we’re at now with streaming,” Smith said. “And it only makes sense that the existing contracts aren’t able to encapsulate all of the considerations because we’re in a new market that wasn’t able to be visualized or understood three years ago or even six years ago.”
As with writers, the streaming era has enormously affected actors, toppling the traditional payment model when broadcast networks led the way.

So the solution isn't going to be quick or easy, and ultimately will lead to higher costs for streaming services.

 

[genius]

Feds are stepping to offer mediation but the strike is about to be underway:

SAG-AFTRA Agrees To Federal Mediation With Studios But Won’t Extend Strike Deadline

SAG-AFTRA has agreed to federal mediation in order the break the bargaining deadlock with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, but said that “we are not confident that the…

deadline.com

 

[genius]

Time is ticking on the deadline:

Hollywood studios race to avoid actors' strike at midnight

Hollywood's major film and television studios and the union representing 160,000 actors were engaged in last-ditch talks on Wednesday ahead of a midnight deadline to try to avoid a second labor strike in the entertainment business.

www.reuters.com

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/07/12/sag-aftra-strike-2023/

 

[Will_H_69_9]

well it's now almost 2:30 AM CT, which is 2 hours ahead of Pacific time, which means, if they didn't got a deal done before midnight PT, then the strike is now officially underway and picketing will begin this morning in LA and New York City and every other city where acting gigs are more common.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

Not yet. They authorized a strike previously. Not ordered one. That step still needs to take place today.

 

[nickp]

Welcome to what is pretty much the equivalent of the 2004-05 NHL lockout

 

[TheBigA]

SAG-AFTRA unanimously votes to strike:

MSN

Though officially the nail-biter continues, a SAG-AFTRA strike appears almost certain.

After SAG-AFTRA’s deadline for the expiration of its film and television contracts package passed Wednesday at midnight with no deal reached with studios and streamers, its negotiating committee unanimously voted to recommend that its National Board call a strike. Though that decision clearly suggests a strike is imminent, the National Board will meet Thursday at 9 a.m. to officially decide whether to call a work stoppage.

 

[crainbebo]

And the year without a television season (2023-2024) begins...
Maybe this will be a great time for Americans to find something else other than reality TV to enjoy as entertainment. Sports, concerts, road trips, fishing, spending time with their kids, returning to church? I expect this to affect the networks and film production companies as much as, if not worse than the COVID shutdowns.
Because this affects the streaming shows too, which many Americans are switching to.

 

[CaliRadioFan]

One show that could be immediately affected is America's Got Talent once this season's live shows begin. Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara and Terry Crews are all active SAG Members. If they elect not to cross the picket lines at all, even for AGT, they will most likely be replaced with personalities already on the NBC/Universal Payroll

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

If you like sports you already do. You’re not going to find tons of new sports fans just waiting to be created. TV also is a “time filler” that some of those most certainly are not. I’m not taking a road trip when I have a couple of hours and want to veg after a hellish day. And just how much more time do you think people are going to spend with their kids because…TV shows are delayed?

Church occupies the place, generally, that’s the TV equivalent of the graveyard, with the Sunday talkers that…wouldn’t be affected.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I have plenty of recorded shows to watch. It's a problem for me that there are so many game shows that I like. There just isn't time to do it all.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

First world problems. 🙄

 

[mnradiofan]

And the year without a television season (2023-2024) begins...
Maybe this will be a great time for Americans to find something else other than reality TV to enjoy as entertainment. Sports, concerts, road trips, fishing, spending time with their kids, returning to church? I expect this to affect the networks and film production companies as much as, if not worse than the COVID shutdowns.
Because this affects the streaming shows too, which many Americans are switching to.

Not sure I'd celebrate this. For one, there is a huge backlog of TV that most people have right now. There has been, quite simply, an overload of content coming due to the streaming wars. This will probably put an end to the streaming wars though (it has already slowed down as providers are shifting into profit making mode from money burning mode).

The second big change I see coming out of this is, less network programming overall. Linear TV is dying, this could be the final nail in the coffin for that. Hell, even movies are on a huge decline as more people elect to forgo movie theaters.

I'm NOT saying that this strike shouldn't be happening, I side with labor here. All I am saying is "be careful what you wish for". After the last WGA strike, we had a lot more reality programming. What will we have after this strike? Less content overall? Fewer networks? Disney is already looking at options to ditch several cable networks and possibly even ABC.

 

[CTListener]

How many sports announcers, reporters and studio hosts are AFTRA/SAG members? Do the leagues, teams and/or networks have non-union replacements ready to take over seamlessly?

 

[vchimpanzee]

Not sure I'd celebrate this. For one, there is a huge backlog of TV that most people have right now. There has been, quite simply, an overload of content coming due to the streaming wars.

And that's without streaming or cable channels. Just broadcast channels.

 

[genius]

Bob Iger is wringing his hands but getting a lot of backlash for this (as he should):

Disney CEO Bob Iger Says Writers and Actors Are Not Being ‘Realistic’ With Strikes: ‘It’s Very Disturbing to Me’

During an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Thursday morning, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that the writers and actors unions going on strike in Hollywood are not being “real…

variety.com

Meanwhile the actors strike has global implications:

Actors Strike: Global Biz Braces for Impact as ‘Gladiator 2,’ ‘Mortal Kombat 2’ Prepare to Stop Filming

As a historic dual strike by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, last endured in 1960, gets ready to bring the global film and TV industry to its knees, the worst-case scenario many have dreaded for months is f…

variety.com

 

[crainbebo]

How many sports announcers, reporters and studio hosts are AFTRA/SAG members? Do the leagues, teams and/or networks have non-union replacements ready to take over seamlessly?

That's an important thing. What about game show hosts, talk show hosts, etc.? Does Jennifer Hudson walk off the set before she can tape for the fall? Steve Harvey? Mayim Bialik (who hosts Jeopardy! for half of the season)? I know there are some hosts who are likely not part of SAG, like Pat Sajak, so they won't be affected, but those who are comedians or have acting careers may be part of SAG.

 

[TheBigA]

That's an important thing. What about game show hosts, talk show hosts, etc.?

The strike is specifically aimed at Hollywood producers. Members may be able to do work outside those companies:

SAG-AFTRA Issues Strike Rules With Walkout Set To Begin At Midnight

As SAG-AFTRA prepares to go on strike tonight at midnight and to begin picketing outside studio gates Friday morning, the guild has sent members its strike rules, which order them to “cease renderi…

deadline.com

 

[Larry]

One show that could be immediately affected is America's Got Talent once this season's live shows begin. Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara and Terry Crews are all active SAG Members. If they elect not to cross the picket lines at all,

Game show hosts are covered by a different SAG-AFTRA contract. Question in my mind would AGT be considered a game show?

 

[Larry]

Note there are many actors and members of SAG-AFTRA are covered by a different contract and not on strike: “Work in the theater, however, will not be affected; while many stage actors are also members of SAG-AFTRA, a different union, the Actors’ Equity Association, represents them in stage productions. News anchors, soap actors, talk-show hosts, and game-show hosts, who are represented by SAG-AFTRA but under a different contract, will not be affected, either; theirs doesn’t expire until next year.”

SAG-AFTRA Is Officially Striking. Here’s What That Means

“The studios and streamers have implemented massive unilateral changes in our industry’s business model, while at the same time insisting on keeping our contracts frozen in amber,” Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, has said.

www.vogue.com