SAG-AFTRA, Studios to Start Contract Talks Monday, Sidelining Writers Guild

By David Robb

By Dave McNary

What’s a union to do about inadequate contract language when members are taking it on the chin? That’s the problem confronting SAG-AFTRA: some television studios are holding actors under contract on unpaid “hiatus” during the pandemic rather than paying them as per force majeure provisions. That’s because 2009 revisions to the SAG TV Agreement made the entire force majeure concept arguably optional.

By David Robb

By Dave McNary

By Gene Maddaus

A day after a Los Angeles federal judge dismissed most of the Writers Guild of America's claims in its lawsuit against the major agencies, the guild wrote a note to its members on its next steps. "This is not the 'victory' they predicted or that they needed, which was the complete dismissal of the lawsuit," read a letter signed by the WGA's agency negotiating committee, referring to plaintiff agencies CAA, UTA and WME.

Audio entertainment giant SiriusXM is planning more formal talks with Howard Stern over the coming months about a potential contract renewal for his The Howard Stern Showas the current five-year deal for it expires at the end of 2020. SiriusXM, controlled by John Malone's Liberty Media, previously said the current pact was part of a broader "12-year agreement, under which legendary broadcaster Stern" has continued to produce and host The Howard Stern Show on SiriusXM.

Audio entertainment giant SiriusXM is planning more formal talks with Howard Stern over the coming months about a potential contract renewal for his The Howard Stern Show as the current five-year deal for it expires at the end of this year.SiriusXM, controlled by John Malone's Liberty Media, previously said that the current pact was part of a broader "12-year agreement, under which legendary broadcaster Stern" has continued to produce and host The Howard Stern Show on SiriusXM.Under the current

By Dave McNary

By David Robb

By Dave McNary

By Dave McNary