(sub. req.) This controversy will perhaps grow bigger as VOD becomes bigger: compensating screenwriters for each movie downloaded through VOD services. The Writers Guild is in negotiations with the studios…
The DVD issues go solved out, barely: DVD/homevideo revenues reached $22 billion last year; WGA members received $51 million in residuals from that, or about a nickel out of every DVD sold. The current WGA proposal calls for studios to double the DVD-homevideo residual rate to 0.6%.
The agreements on VOD cover Internet rentals which self-destruct after a few playbacks or a period of time; the question of “Internet sales” — in which the film wouldn’t self-destruct — wasn’t addressed in the contract.
The WGA’s current demands include language that spells out that credited screenwriters receive the same 1.2% rate for downloaded self-destructing movies sold via the Internet.
Subscriber content
?
Subscriber content comes from Gigaom Research, bridging the gap between breaking news and long-tail research. Visit any of our reports to learn more and subscribe.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Comments have been disabled for this post