Interesting. So what is the catch?

They don't go on strike.

bah-dum-bum.

NY Times says:

The accord achieves a breakthrough for union members by doubling compensation for television shows that are downloaded via the Internet, and raising by 80 percent the rate for movie downloads. In addition, directors — for the first time — will be compensated for advertising-supported streaming of shows.

Over all, the agreement was designed to reflect the directors’ belief, bolstered by an independent study of industry economics, that digital media will render the companies a negligible amount of revenue during the life of the contract, and will become significant only after 2010.

Um, isn't that the sort of thinking that ended up getting everyone fucked over by VHS/DVD?

Um, isn't that the sort of thinking that ended up getting everyone fucked over by VHS/DVD?

Seems that way. I don't think I'm going to actually get anymore work done today.

T, I didn't mean so much pissed off now - I mean longer term.

Seems that way. I don't think I'm going to actually get anymore work done today.

It's just like...do they think the AMPTP is going to be more willing to give them a better cut once they actually see the shitload of revenue they can keep for themselves?

Hollywood Reporter says:

Whether WGA brass will feel similarly positive about the terms the DGA secured is another matter. But on Thursday, the directors announced a new three-year tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture of Motion Picture & Television Producers that would deliver:

-- Increases in wages and residual bases for each year of the contract.

-- DGA jurisdiction over programs produced for distribution on the Internet.

-- New residuals formula for paid Internet downloads (electronic sell-through) that essentially doubles the rate currently paid by employers.

-- Residual rates for ad-supported streaming and use of clips on the Internet.

Key new-media provisions appear substantial.

The agreement more than doubles the current residual on downloads of TV programming and boosts film residuals on downloads by 80%, officials said. A roughly $600 payment for ad-supported streaming kicks in after the first 17 days of streaming, followed by additional payments after 26 weeks totaling $1,200 for a year's worth of streaming.

"Two words describe this agreement -- groundbreaking and substantial," said Gil Cates, chair of the DGA's Negotiations Committee, in announcing the terms of the new agreement. "The gains in this contract for directors and their teams are extraordinary -- and there are no rollbacks of any kind."

(Thanks to wga_supporters for the postings.)

I'm trying to get to the DGA site now to download the fact sheet. But, from the release, it seems that they got jurisdiction (big) and residuals based on the distributor's gross (also big).

Um, isn't that the sort of thinking that ended up getting everyone fucked over by VHS/DVD?

My understanding is that the Sunset Provision in the deal prevent that from happening.

Kristen, UH posted the DGA release.

it seems that they got jurisdiction (big) and residuals based on the distributor's gross (also big).

Yeah, I noticed. Nice.

Ad-Supported Streaming: After an initial 17-day window for free promotional streaming of Internet programs, companies must pay 3% of the residual base (approximately $600 for network prime time 1-hour drama) for 26 weeks of streaming. They can continue to stream for an additional 26-week period by paying an additional 3% -- or a total of $1,200 for one year's worth of streaming. (During a program's first season, the 17-day window is expanded to 24 days to help build audience.)

This window is lame, but at least it's better than the three months or whatever they proposed before?

T, I didn't mean so much pissed off now - I mean longer term.

There is still plenty of healthy denial that all will be fixed soon enough to avert any big disaster long term.

I realize the above sentence makes no sense, but I'm not a writer and I hope people can figure out what I mean.