WGA, AMPTP Begin Informal Discussions

LOS ANGELES, January 23: The Writers Guild of America (WGA)
has said it is dropping its demand for extended jurisdiction over reality and
animation programming, as it prepares to begin informal discussions with the
Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) today.

The organizations said in a joint statement that they will
“begin informal discussions to determine if there is a basis for both parties
to return to formal negotiations.”

Both groups have said that no comments will be made to the
press until the discussions are completed.

The jurisdiction over reality and animation was one of the
contentious points in the negotiations, which broke off in early December. The
other stumbling block has been the formula for residuals from new-media use.

—By Mansha Daswani