Hollywood Writers Begin Strike

LOS ANGELES, November 5: For the first time since 1988,
Hollywood’s TV and movie writers have gone on strike, after failing to hammer
out a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers
(AMPTP).

As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the more than 12,000 members
of the Writers Guild of America, West and Writers Guild of America, East, are
on strike. Picketing began in New York and Los Angeles today at all the major
studios.

The walkout follows last-ditch negotiating efforts this
weekend, after the previous contract expired October 31. At a meeting
yesterday, the WGA pulled its DVD proposal—which sought to increase the
residuals received from home-entertainment releases. The AMPTP had referred to
the DVD issue as a roadblock. However, the WGA maintains that the AMPTP would
not budge on new-media residuals, including Internet downloads and online
streaming.

The AMPTP’s president, Nick Counter, issued a statement
yesterday noting: “When we asked if they would “stop the clock” for the purpose
of delaying the strike to allow negotiations to continue, they refused. We made
an attempt at meeting them in a number of their key areas including Internet
streaming and jurisdiction in new media. Ultimately, the guild was unwilling to
compromise on most of their major demands. It is unfortunate that they choose
to take this irresponsible action.”

The Hollywood strike of 1988 lasted five months and is said
to have cost the entertainment industry some $500 million.

—By Mansha Daswani