The Writers Guild of America has gone on strike, shutting down Hollywood movie and television productions around the country. The key sticking point is how revenues get shared on digital media.
Until the strike is settled, we'll be forced to deal with more reality and other unscripted shows, and reruns. 500 channels and there's still nothing on - even when Hollywood is busy churning out rehashed scrips.
Still, the writers do have a point over how they should be compensated for broadcasts on digital media. Currently, they get nothing if someone downloads a podcast of one of their shows, but would get revenues from broadcast on television.
It's all about dividing up profits in a very lucrative business. In this fight, I think the writers have slightly more leverage than the studios, although there are certainly more than enough struggling and aspiring writers out there who would be more than willing to get their work published/produced that the studios could turn to if this becomes a prolonged strike and the studios needed to break the strike.
It's a risk I don't think either side will take and this will be settled rather quickly.
In the meantime, it's The Food Network, Home and Garden TV, DIY, and other home improvement shows for me - and those aren't affected because they're unscripted shows.
UPDATE:
Roger L. Simon, a screenwriter and PJ Media honcho, has serious insight into the nature of the strike and what's at stake. It's not only about the writers, but the many thousands of people who rely on the industry in Los Angeles and New York for work (craft services, food service, etc.). The last time there was a strike, it lasted nearly a year and many businesses couldn't handle the lost income. This time, the issues are even more serious and the parties are even further apart.
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