Peace may be at hand in the Writers Guild of America strike.
Representatives from the writers and studios have apparently reached a breakthrough about compensation for ad-supported TV shows streamed over the Internet, a development that could result in a resolution by the end of the week to the strike that has crippled Hollywood since early November, The New York Times reported Saturday.
Informal talks between executive leaders of the parties over the past two weeks evidently bore fruit Friday, The New York Times reported, citing sources who were briefed on the situation. It was unclear, the newspaper said, how reps for the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers bridged the gap over the Internet compensation issue.
The newspaper noted that an agreement, still subject to certain language provisions, could be reached without the resumption of formal negotiations between the WGA and the AMPTP. Should things proceed apace, NYT reported, the pact could be presented to the boards of both the WGA West and WGA East by the close of next week. Full WGA membership ratification would follow.
According to Internet reports, Los Angeles radio stations on Saturday were reporting that the WGA had struck a preliminary agreement.
The WGA, which could not be reached for comment by press time, has been on strike since Nov. 5. AMPTP officials also could not be contacted by press time.
