SAG Execs Ponder TV Disaster
With pickup notices going out to new series, at 5757 execs have been pondering the increasing problem caused by not having a TV-Theatrical contract in place. Contrary to reports on some websites (particularly those under the control of Membership First), SAG has been all but shut out of new scripted dramatic production. The new show pickups, like the pilots, have been virtually all AFTRA.
Particularly surprising is that the AFTRA dominance in dramatic television has skyrocketed and appears to be holding despite the fact that, contrary to frequently heard Hollywood lore, pay scales for actors on AFTRA shows are higher than those for actors on shows under SAG contracts. This is seen primarily as a result of the past year of uncertainty, with Membership First following its attempt to promote a strike with its current opposition to ratification of the new contract.
So far we haven’t heard any specific plans from 5757 to attempt to reverse the trend, but we do know there have been meetings – as recently as today – to discuss the issue.
This article must be refferring to aftra’s exhibit a contract. which is the only contract where aftra has higher rates and that is only becuase sag does not have a contract yet. payrates for exhibit a in comparison to sag basic agreement have always been the same up until recently. when the contract get’s approved the rates more then likely be the same. I recently downloaded a list of shows that are on this contract and it was only a few shows. the shows reffered to in this article are more then likely under the basic cable contract which has always inferrior rates and terms. as far as being shut out of new scripted programming this is overstatement, More new pilots are going aftra then before but sag programming is still the majority. the meetings are more then likely about loosing ground in the cable market and to some extnet some new primetime shows going aftra as a result of not having a contract.
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Mod. Comment: SAG is currently still working at the 2007 rates scheduled under the 2005 Television Agreement. AFTRA’s primetime rates went up 3.5% on July 1, 2008, and will go up another 3% on July 1, 2009. The new SAG Television Agreement will bring a 3% rate increase (relative to the 2007 rates) effective on the date of ratification. Once AFTRA’s July 1 rate increase kicks in, AFTRA scale will remain roughly 3.5% higher than SAG’s rates throughout the term of both agreements.
This posts was short on specifics:
How many new CBS scripted shows are AFTRA? How many SAG?
How many new NBC scripted shows are AFTRA? How many SAG?
How many new ABC scripted shows are AFTRA? How many SAG?
How many new Fox scripted shows are AFTRA? How many SAG?
How many new CW scripted shows are AFTRA? How many SAG
No doubt AFTRA has many more shows than in recent years.
Anyone that complains about Aftra contract paying less is talking about scripted basic cable. From 1981, until 2008 Aftra’s Prime Time(ExhibitA)and SAG’s TV/Theatrical contracts have been identical jointly negotiated contracts.
Looking at the show sheet AFTRA has 10 shows on network 3 of them being on the CW. 31 Cable shows, 4 shows shot outside of the U.S.A., 6 of those are on Disney,