WGA, AMPTP Impasse May Endanger Pilot Season

The breakdown in negotiations between the WGA and the AMPTP could endanger the 2008 pilot season if the strike continues for another four to six weeks.

TV networks have already planned major changes to their programming for the rest of the current broadcast season.

The impasse is the second since the WGA and AMPTP launched contract talks July 16. The first came Nov. 4 and resulted in the ongoing writers strike being launched the next day.

When talks resumed last month, CAA partner Bryan Lourd replaced the federal mediator by taking over as an ad hoc mediator. Definite progress was made on issues like compensation for content streamed over the Internet.

Many industryites now expect the AMPTP to turn its negotiating attention to early contract talks with the DGA, whose current contract expires June 30. SAG also has an AMPTP pact set to expire on that date but is unlikely to begin new contract talks until the writers seal a deal.

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