Negotiations Between Writers & Studios Collapse

Negotiations between striking Hollywood writers and studios collapsed Friday, producers said, after both sides spent the day trading accusations and barbs.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers announced that the round of talks that started Tuesday had broken down, stalling efforts to end the five-week strike that has sidelined many prime-time and late-night TV shows.

The Writers Guild of America said it had no immediate comment.

In a statement, the producers alliance said: “We’re puzzled and disheartened by an ongoing WGA negotiating strategy that seems designed to delay or derail talks rather than facilitate an end to this strike.”

The alliance reiterated its position that its latest offer aimed at settling a central contract issue — compensation for the Internet and other digital media — makes it “possible to find common ground.”

Studios had proposed a flat $250 payment for a year’s use of an hourlong TV show on the Web. That contrasts with the $20,000-plus that writers now earn for a single network rerun of a TV episode.

In its statement, the alliance said it has demonstrated its intent that writers “participate in producers’ revenues, including in theatrical and television streaming, as well as other areas of new media.”

“However, under no circumstances will we knowingly participate in the destruction of this business,” the producers said.

Earlier Friday, the guild released a membership letter in which it accused the alliance of dragging its heels in putting new proposals on the table and cited possible schemes to sink the talks.

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