Why did it take 5 months to solve the Writers’ Strike?
Sep 25, 2023
auto_awesome
Exploring the recent resolution of the Writers' Strike after a 5-month negotiation, the role of AI in the strike settlement and its impact on writers, and the unresolved financial issues faced by studios and streaming services.
22:20
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
The writers' strike resolution includes commitments by studios to hire a minimum number of writers on most television shows and address concerns about employment and compensation.
The agreement acknowledges the impact of AI on the industry, ensuring that only humans can be credited as writers and placing limitations on the use of AI-generated scripts by studios.
Deep dives
Writers' Strike Resolution
The writers' strike is over, as an agreement has been reached between the studios and the writers. While the agreement is subject to ratification by the broader guild, it is expected to be approved in the next couple of weeks. The exact timing of the writers' return to work is uncertain, but by early to mid-October, productions that only require writers could resume. This resolution sets the stage for a potential deal with the actors as well.
Key Provisions of the Agreement
The agreement addresses many of the writers' concerns and includes some significant changes. Studios have committed to hiring a minimum number of writers on most television shows to safeguard employment and maintain the size of the union. Transparency regarding viewership numbers and a bonus structure tied to success have also been secured. The deal acknowledges the impact of AI on the industry, ensuring that only humans can be credited as writers and placing limitations on the use of AI-generated scripts by studios.
Effects on the Industry
The resolution of the writers' strike does not solve larger questions about the future of the industry, such as the financial impact of streaming. The agreement primarily focuses on the specific concerns of the writers and their desire for improved employment conditions and compensation. However, the higher costs associated with the new labor agreement may lead studios to reduce their output, potentially affecting the number of shows produced. Overall, while the strike resolution does not fundamentally alter the industry landscape, it establishes a new relationship between writers and studios.
After a historic strike that went on for almost 150 days, the studios and the Writers Guild of America have a (tentative) deal. What’s in the deal, and why did it take almost half a year to get there? And what does this mean for the Screen Actors Guild strike, still in progress? And what happened to the AI issue we were told was existential? Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw (@Lucas_Shaw) joins Vox’s Peter Kafka to break down what we know so far.
Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode
More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclaimed reporters, talks to business titans, journalists, comedians, and more to get their take on today's media landscape.
About Recode by Vox: Recode by Vox helps you understand how tech is changing the world — and changing us.