Latest from Next TV in Wgaw

Writers Guild: Looming Streaming Triopoly Needs Regulatory Intervention

john.eggerton@futurenet.com (John Eggerton) — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 19:04:12 +0000

The Walt Disney Co., Amazon and Netflix are likely to be a media gatekeeper triopoly given deregulation and the rise of streaming as a video powerhouse. That is unless government regulators step in to stem that tide by regulating the streaming business.

That is according to a new report released by the Writers Guild of America West, which tied the current writers strike to that new reality.

“Writers being forced to strike in this climate should come as a surprise to no one,” said WGAW Research and Public Policy Director Laura Blum-Smith. “We’re transitioning from a period of rapid investment and competition that brought about new and diverse content to a monopolistic model that will concentrate control over entertainment programming in the hands of just a few large and powerful corporations."

WGAW said the “largely unregulated” streaming business is a big problem, and said regulators need to do the following:

“Block further consolidation;
“Proactively investigate anti-competitive issues and outcomes; and
“Increase regulation and oversight in streaming.”Empty list

The Federal Communications Commission, for one, has been pressed to start applying to video streamers the program access and carriage rules it applies to traditional video to prevent the monoplization of programming by platforms.

WGAW clearly signals that regulators need to start looking at concentrating in the streaming environment. “It is crucial that antitrust agencies and lawmakers take action to protect the future prospect of a more diverse and less concentrated media landscape,” WGAW said.

WGA East, West Reach Deal with Producers

john.eggerton@futurenet.com (John Eggerton) — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 20:23:21 +0000

The Writers Guild of America, East and West, has reached a new three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP).

According to the unions, the new agreement includes boosts to minimum pay rates, increased residuals, a first ever "portable paid parenting benefit fund," larger script publication fees, and a right to meet with their employers "about their inclusion and equity programs and anti-harassment measures."

The vote was not close: 4,068 yes and 87 no, or 98% approval. The two-year contract is retroactive to May 2, 2020 and thus extends through May 1, 2023.

In addition to the usual give and take, that happened against the backdrop of a global pandemic.

“This year we faced a unique situation in negotiations because of COVID-19, but despite the challenges posed by the pandemic we achieved gains in a deal that will serve writers’ interests for the next three years,” said WGAE President Beau Willimon and WGAW President David A. Goodman.

WGA East, West Reach Deal with Producers

john.eggerton@futurenet.com (John Eggerton) — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 20:19:35 +0000

The Writers Guild of America, East and West, has reached a new three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP).

The vote was not close: 4,068 yes and 87 no, or 98% approval. The two-year contract is retroactive to May 2, 2020 and thus extends through May 1, 2023.

In addition to the usual give and take, that happened against the backdrop of a global pandemic.

Deal Critics Celebrate DOJ Suit Against AT&T-Time Warner Merger

john.eggerton@futurenet.com (John Eggerton) — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 23:07:00 +0000

Deal watchers were quick to weigh in on the Department of Justice's decision to file suit against the merger of AT&T-Time Warner, particularly foes of he meld.

Consolidation critics were pleased with the DOJ move, despite suggestions that the President's dislike of CNN reporting and his announced intention that his administration would try and block the deal, affected DOJ's decision.

They saw plenty of reason to oppose the merger that did not have to do with politics.

“Writers Guild of America West welcomes action by the U.S. Department of Justice to block the merger between AT&T and Time Warner," said the union. "As we have stated since this deal was first proposed, the size, scope and potential harm to both consumers and content creators provide ample reason to block the merger on its merits. The proposed combination of must-have content with vast control over distribution would give the company broad power to undermine competition, restrict access to programming and raise prices. This merger would result in a media behemoth even larger than the failed Comcast-Time Warner Cable venture, and should be stopped. With reports surfacing each week of other possible media mergers, blocking this deal has only become more critical.”

Public Knowledge was also celebrating.

"We welcome this effort by the Department of Justice to protect competition in the video industry. Ever since this deal was announced, we sounded the alarm on the dangers it could pose to consumers, and it is gratifying to see antitrust enforcers respond."

Public Knowledge tacitly recognized the concerns about presidential meddling, but remained focused on the ends.

“Although there is some controversy over the political environment surrounding the transaction, media consolidation in general and this transaction in particular is not in the interest of the American public," the group said. "The Department of Justice has drawn a line in the sand against this violation of the Clayton Act, and we believe the courts will side with the government by preventing further media consolidation that drives up prices for consumers and undermines the competitive marketplace of ideas."

Common Cause said: "On its face the AT&T-Time Warner merger clearly violates antitrust law and President Trump’s railing against CNN should not have played any role in the Justice Department’s decision to bring suit. We have always maintained that vertical mergers of content and carriage violate well-established and pro-consumer antitrust principles."

Perhaps, but AT&T has pointed out that no court has blocked a vertical merger in almost 50 years.

Common Cause said it hoped politics had not driven the decision to block, but also focused on the result.

"Blessing AT&T’s monopolistic bid to acquire Time Warner would harm consumers and the public interest," said the group.

"As with any antitrust proceeding, the facts matter and there are ample grounds for DOJ to cite in its opposition. We continue to support challenging this proposed merger for reasons of law - and we hope the DOJ relied exclusively on the law as the basis for its action, as opposed to political score settling."

Cárdenas Praises Extended Comcast/TWC Comment Period

john.eggerton@futurenet.com (John Eggerton) — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 20:30:00 +0000

Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.) Tuesday praised the FCC's decision to pause the informal shot clock on its review of the Comcast/TWC merger and effectively extend the reply comment period on the proposed deal to Oct. 29.

Cárdenas, who has been critical of the deal, said the move shows the FCC "realizes there are still voices that have legitimate concerns." Those voices include at the FCC's Media Bureau, who said they still needed more info from the parties and to vet a Comcast analysis of program discrimination that refuted the FCC's own analysis in the Comcast/NBCU merger.

Cárdenas said that extending the comment period would insure the public that if the deal is approved, it is "fair to consumers; ensures that smaller, independent voices can thrive; and promotes diversity in the media."

But he also pointed out that the FCC took a similar action in the proposed AT&T/T-Mobile merger, and wound up denying that deal.

“By extending the comment period, the FCC clearly realizes that there are still voices that have legitimate concerns with the merger who still need to be heard,” said Cárdenas. “Part of the challenge we face is that many of those concerned with the merger will potentially have to sit across the negotiating table with a new Comcast-Time Warner Cable. Because this new entity will have such broad control over media production, distribution, cable and broadband, there is a natural chilling effect for many of those voices

Cárdenas is concerned about the impact of the deal on smaller, independent programmers. He was among 50 House members who sent a letter to the FCC to that effect in August. He also hosted a roundtable with Writers Guild of America West members last week. WGAW is also concerned about the merged company's potential for limiting access to what it sees as a new, online outlet for independents with limited access to traditional distribution outlets controlled by merged media giants.

Cárdenas was also a critic of the Dodgers regional sports network carriage impasse involving Time Warner Cable in California. He called that dispute a subset of larger media consolidation battles, and says when he talked to Wheeler about the Dodgers issue, they also talked about the Comcast/TWC merger.