The WGA/SAG-AFTRA Strike: Deal Is Brought To You By Letter D

[Feargus McReddit]

Sept 25, 2023 9:31:31 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

This sort of slid under the table yesterday but California approved the bill for benefits for long term striking workers which is a great sign for the upcoming contracts expiring for the TAG and IATSE in the next 12 months.

And, to not veer this too much into present politics but it should be mentioned, that bill has been vetoed by Governor Gavin Newson (who did at one point go down to see the strikers and support them, by the way).

Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned from all of this is that annoying actors and writers doesn’t backfire on anyone at all.

[Feargus McReddit]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx5xx-4x-BA

[Feargus McReddit]

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Jimmy Kimmel returned tonight with the Writers Strike coming to an end

But I won't hold that against them

[Renslayer]

[Feargus McReddit]

Oct 3, 2023 8:33:40 GMT -5 Renslayer said:

I mean, if I were spending months ignoring two of the sets of people that make most of my content and basically planning on stopping them from working, I wouldn’t decide to raise prices and lock down password sharing when I’ve been trying to win a PR war that I already lost but I’m not someone who needs fuel for my dock full of yachts.

[Feargus McReddit]

2024’s going to be a fun year for the AMPTP.

[salz4life]

Oct 3, 2023 8:33:40 GMT -5 Renslayer said:

Didn't they just increase their prices less than a year ago?

[cjh]

www.thewrap.com/netflix-plans-raise-price-hike-after-actors-strike-resolved-over/

Netflix is planning to hit subscribers with a price hike once actors are off the picket lines, while Disney+ appears ready to chase revenue with a live sports tier, according to a Tuesday report in the Wall Street Journal.

The most popular streaming service is in talks on raising prices in several markets, but is expected to start the U.S. and Canada, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The hikes will likely be announced after the SAG-AFTRA strike ends. Talks between the studios and actors were expected to continue Wednesday, after the Writers Guild of America and the studios settled their walkout last week.

The report did not say what the predicted increase will be, but it helped boost Netflix shares despite the broader markets sinking.

Netflix shares added $3.09, less than 1%, to $383.42 in morning trading while the major indexes all sagged. The stock is off its annual high of $485 reached in July, but remains up about 34% since the start of the year.

The news defies comments from Netflix CFO Spencer Newmann, who said in July that the company was focused on its paid sharing rollout — the crackdown on users who freely shared passwords with friends and family — which he called the company’s “primary revenue accelerator in the year.”

“Most of our revenue growth this year is from growth in volume from new paid memberships, and that’s largely driven by our new paid rollout,” Neumann said.

Netflix declined to comment on the report.

But “streamflation” has already hit Netflix’s top competitors.

Since October 2022, Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Max, Paramount+ and Peacock have all raised their prices. Disney+ and Hulu’s second increase in under a year will hit Oct. 12, with their ad-free versions rising to $13.99 and $17.99 per month.

Netflix, which last raised prices in early 2022, stopped offering its $9.99 per month ad-free basic tier in the U.S. and U.K. in July, pushing its cheapest ad-free option to $15.49 per month.

Another tactic for increasing revenue is offering new services like live sports, which is under discussion at Disney+, The Journal reported. Disney already offers ESPN+ in a bundle with Hulu and Disney+ and offers ESPN+ as a standalone service.

“We regularly discuss many options as it relates to the business, but it’s definitely premature to say this is happening,” a Disney representative told TheWrap Tuesday.

Warner Bros. Discovery announced last month that its streamer Max is launching a “Bleacher Report” tier with live sports from the MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA, plus U.S. soccer and golf. The service will be free for five months and cost $9.99 a month starting March 1.

Disney shares slid with the broader market, giving up $1.33, or 1.7% to $80.34. The stock is down about 15% since the start of the year.

[Feargus McReddit]

No, streamers, you’re supposed to do it many months after the strikes have ended so you can blame the actors and writers, not do it during or leak that it will happen to get shares to go up beforehand!

Like, if 2023 has shown us anything is that people at the top of prominent companies, or buy their way to the top of prominent companies, lack any kind of PR or any concept of public perception and only care about VK Wallstreet and I ain’t talking about Mike Rotunda.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

Oct 3, 2023 17:16:05 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

No, streamers, you’re supposed to do it many months after the strikes have ended so you can blame the actors and writers, not do it during or leak that it will happen to get shares to go up beforehand!

I wouldn't put it past them raising prices a second time and blaming the actors and writers. "We underestimated the cost of the new agreements" or some such shit.

[stevescorpio]

Good thing I canceled my Netflix subscription.

[Feargus McReddit]

Oct 3, 2023 18:06:07 GMT -5 Mighty Attack Tribble said:

Oct 3, 2023 17:16:05 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

No, streamers, you’re supposed to do it many months after the strikes have ended so you can blame the actors and writers, not do it during or leak that it will happen to get shares to go up beforehand!

I wouldn't put it past them raising prices a second time and blaming the actors and writers. "We underestimated the cost of the new agreements" or some such shit.

It’ll happen and then they’ll brag to shareholders that they were able to make the agreements AND have a bunch of money saved up to use at the same time and then still say “We’re paying people too much, we need to raise costs!” and then they’ll go 😧 when people use other means to get entertainment.

[The Captain]

Dave Bautista was on the picket lines today. Hope that gives the studios some pause that someone who can BATISTA BOMB THEM THROUGH THE NEGOTIATING TABLE is on the other side.

[Kalmia]

It should be a law that every time streamers increase their prices, they should also include how much they paid in bonuses to their executives in the previous year in the announcement. It's not the pennies they're paying in residuals that are increasing the prices but the bonuses, inflated budgets, and creative accounting. Every quarter has to have an increase in profit over the last, even though anyone with half a brain cell knows that's not sustainable in the long term and eventually, you're going to hit a wall.

[Feargus McReddit]

Hey, remember when Drew Barrymore tried to bring back her show without writers and backed off after everyone basically said “The F***?!” and she backed down? You’d think after all that, the show would actually come back, right?

Weeellll…

Basically, the show is still coming back but the show’s three WGA writers are refusing to come back because, I mean, she tried to sell them out. The “Find out” portion of “F*** about and find out”, if you will.

[horsemen4ever]

Personally Lorne Michaels ought to get the same crap Drew Barrymore is getting, SNL coming back is a joke, the SNL cast being forced to be scabs. If I am SGA-AFTRA I am picketing SNL.

[Feargus McReddit]

Oct 4, 2023 19:44:40 GMT -5 horsemen4ever said:

Personally Lorne Michaels ought to get the same crap Drew Barrymore is getting, SNL coming back is a joke, the SNL cast being forced to be scabs. If I am SGA-AFTRA I am picketing SNL.

Technically, they can’t.

SAG-AFTRA Statement Regarding Saturday Night Live
News Updates

October 4, 2023

"SAG-AFTRA members appearing on Saturday Night Live either as hosts, guests, or cast members are working under the Network Code agreement, which is not a contract we are striking. They are not in violation of SAG-AFTRA strike rules, and we support them in fulfilling their contractual obligations.

"The program is a SAG-AFTRA non-dramatic production under a separate agreement that is not subject to the union’s strike order.

"The majority of our members who are regular cast on Saturday Night Live had contractual obligations to the show prior to the strike. Many are under option agreements that require them to return to the show if the producers exercise their option which the producers have done.

"Our members are also subject to a “No Strike Clause” in the Network Code Collective Bargaining Agreement. This means our performers agree not to strike during the term of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and to show up to work during this term (the Network Code runs through June 30, 2024). By not showing up to work, our performers can be held in breach of contract and the Union is prohibited from advising them not to work.

"It is important to recognize that SAG-AFTRA is fighting against the studios and not members who are required to go to work every day under other union contracts or personal service agreements. We stand with our union siblings across the industry as we also recognize our obligations under federal labor law."

www.sagaftra.org/sag-aftra-statement-regarding-saturday-night-live

[Feargus McReddit]

If I were a man who likes to kick studios when they’re down and just wrapping up a week of negotiations with SAG, I could remind them that the Taylor Swift concert movie is set to become the highest grossing concert movie of all time with $100m in advanced ticket sales and one of them could have had it if they didn’t try and nickel and dime her.

But I’m not so I won’t.

[The Captain]

Oct 4, 2023 23:55:25 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

Oct 4, 2023 19:44:40 GMT -5 horsemen4ever said:

Personally Lorne Michaels ought to get the same crap Drew Barrymore is getting, SNL coming back is a joke, the SNL cast being forced to be scabs. If I am SGA-AFTRA I am picketing SNL.

Technically, they can’t.

SAG-AFTRA Statement Regarding Saturday Night Live
News Updates

October 4, 2023

"SAG-AFTRA members appearing on Saturday Night Live either as hosts, guests, or cast members are working under the Network Code agreement, which is not a contract we are striking. They are not in violation of SAG-AFTRA strike rules, and we support them in fulfilling their contractual obligations.

"The program is a SAG-AFTRA non-dramatic production under a separate agreement that is not subject to the union’s strike order.

"The majority of our members who are regular cast on Saturday Night Live had contractual obligations to the show prior to the strike. Many are under option agreements that require them to return to the show if the producers exercise their option which the producers have done.

"Our members are also subject to a “No Strike Clause” in the Network Code Collective Bargaining Agreement. This means our performers agree not to strike during the term of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and to show up to work during this term (the Network Code runs through June 30, 2024). By not showing up to work, our performers can be held in breach of contract and the Union is prohibited from advising them not to work.

"It is important to recognize that SAG-AFTRA is fighting against the studios and not members who are required to go to work every day under other union contracts or personal service agreements. We stand with our union siblings across the industry as we also recognize our obligations under federal labor law."

www.sagaftra.org/sag-aftra-statement-regarding-saturday-night-live

Yeah, there was talk about SNL skit acting violating the Network TV Code, but apparently not. Still counts as a variety show, so it's kosher.

The big hold up with SNL is their writers (many of whom also double as cast members) were on strike. With the writers' strike over, SNL is free and clear. Though any guest hosts that are actors on struck works can't promote said works on SNL. I imagine parody skits would fall under that umbrella. Probably why their guest hosts so far are an alumnus (Pete Davidson) and a musician (Bad Bunny).