Writers' strike in fifth week: the political discussion continues

The United Hollywood blog, a semi-official organ of the strikers, pointed out: “Shows like ‘Lost,’ for example...will supposedly be shown without a singe rerun. The only reruns would be on the internet via streaming and downloads. That means that a writer, who would normally get anywhere from $3,000 residual for a WGA-covered cable show to $20,000 residual for a huge network hit, would get $250 dollars instead when it was shown on the internet—and that would cover reruns for a whole year, no matter how many times it was seen. If that same episode was downloaded from iTunes for $1.99, the writer would receive about .6 cents. As in, slightly more than half a penny.”

Similar proposals for made-for-Internet material reveal the contempt the AMPTP has for the workers who do the actual creative work in the entertainment industry.