“But CBS said in its statement issued tonight: ‘CBS controls the Internet exploitation rights for both programs, and will comply with any eventual negotiated agreement between the AMPTP and the WGA.’ But then Letterman’s side showed that its company and not CBS is the one responsible for paying residuals to the WGA writers for Internet use of the shows.”

In their press releases, the WGA states, “Worldwide Pants is agreeing to the full MBA, including the new media proposals we have been unable to make progress on at the big bargaining table.”

I’m guessing what all this means is that WWP agreed to pay the residuals for internet downloads and streaming and stuff, but since they currently don’t control that stuff, they aren’t paying anybody anything. But if they ever do get control in the future, they’ll pay it.

Which leaves me wondering, are WWP’s writers getting anything more with this new deal than they were before?

“But CBS said in its statement issued tonight: 'CBS controls the Internet exploitation rights for both programs, and will comply with any eventual negotiated agreement between the AMPTP and the WGA.' But then Letterman's side showed that its company and not CBS is the one responsible for paying residuals to the WGA writers for Internet use of the shows.”

In their press releases, the WGA states, “Worldwide Pants is agreeing to the full MBA, including the new media proposals we have been unable to make progress on at the big bargaining table.”

I'm guessing what all this means is that WWP agreed to pay the residuals for internet downloads and streaming and stuff, but since they currently don't control that stuff, they aren't paying anybody anything. But if they ever do get control in the future, they'll pay it.

Which leaves me wondering, are WWP's writers getting anything more with this new deal than they were before?

“But CBS said in its statement issued tonight: 'CBS controls the Internet exploitation rights for both programs, and will comply with any eventual negotiated agreement between the AMPTP and the WGA.' But then Letterman's side showed that its company and not CBS is the one responsible for paying residuals to the WGA writers for Internet use of the shows.”

In their press releases, the WGA states, “Worldwide Pants is agreeing to the full MBA, including the new media proposals we have been unable to make progress on at the big bargaining table.”

I'm guessing what all this means is that WWP agreed to pay the residuals for internet downloads and streaming and stuff, but since they currently don't control that stuff, they aren't paying anybody anything. But if they ever do get control in the future, they'll pay it.

Which leaves me wondering, are WWP's writers getting anything more with this new deal than they were before?

I’d link to any specific detail about the WGA/Letterman deal, but this report is the best I can find and it doesn’t really say much.

I think my original reasons for thinking a separate Letterman deal was bad for the WGA still hold.

A small company like Worldwide Pants agreeing to something with the WGA really doesn’t establish the reasonableness of the WGA demands to the bigger companies. More importantly, it doesn’t commit the larger companies to anything.

Some writers are now working while others are not. Except for the writers returning to work, that’s bad.

Letterman and Ferguson are now advantaged vs. their NBC competition but overall for CBS and NBC-Universal it’s not that significant a difference. It will, however, be interesting to see any ratings differences for the CBS vs. the NBC shows. Sadly, we don’t get those as a matter of course from Nielsen.

I think there will be some PR boost from having Letterman talk a bit about the strike, but I think all the hope that the WGA has put in PR “victories”, and they have had plenty, has been misplaced and largely wasted.

Of the other TV broadcasters, Fox doesn’t have any latenight, and ABC has Nightline and that isn’t affected.

I do admit, and I should have stated this at the beginning, all my comments cover only the TV business aspect of the WGA strike, as have all our news items. The movie business, and its problems in the WGA strike, are outside the realm of our knowledge and the scope of our writing.

I'd link to any specific detail about the WGA/Letterman deal, but this report is the best I can find and it doesn't really say much.

I think my original reasons for thinking a separate Letterman deal was bad for the WGA still hold.

A small company like Worldwide Pants agreeing to something with the WGA really doesn't establish the reasonableness of the WGA demands to the bigger companies. More importantly, it doesn't commit the larger companies to anything.

Some writers are now working while others are not. Except for the writers returning to work, that's bad.

Letterman and Ferguson are now advantaged vs. their NBC competition but overall for CBS and NBC-Universal it's not that significant a difference. It will, however, be interesting to see any ratings differences for the CBS vs. the NBC shows. Sadly, we don't get those as a matter of course from Nielsen.

I think there will be some PR boost from having Letterman talk a bit about the strike, but I think all the hope that the WGA has put in PR “victories”, and they have had plenty, has been misplaced and largely wasted.

Of the other TV broadcasters, Fox doesn't have any latenight, and ABC has Nightline and that isn't affected.

I do admit, and I should have stated this at the beginning, all my comments cover only the TV business aspect of the WGA strike, as have all our news items. The movie business, and its problems in the WGA strike, are outside the realm of our knowledge and the scope of our writing.

I'd link to any specific detail about the WGA/Letterman deal, but this report is the best I can find and it doesn't really say much.

I think my original reasons for thinking a separate Letterman deal was bad for the WGA still hold.

A small company like Worldwide Pants agreeing to something with the WGA really doesn't establish the reasonableness of the WGA demands to the bigger companies. More importantly, it doesn't commit the larger companies to anything.

Some writers are now working while others are not. Except for the writers returning to work, that's bad.

Letterman and Ferguson are now advantaged vs. their NBC competition but overall for CBS and NBC-Universal it's not that significant a difference. It will, however, be interesting to see any ratings differences for the CBS vs. the NBC shows. Sadly, we don't get those as a matter of course from Nielsen.

I think there will be some PR boost from having Letterman talk a bit about the strike, but I think all the hope that the WGA has put in PR “victories”, and they have had plenty, has been misplaced and largely wasted.

Of the other TV broadcasters, Fox doesn't have any latenight, and ABC has Nightline and that isn't affected.

I do admit, and I should have stated this at the beginning, all my comments cover only the TV business aspect of the WGA strike, as have all our news items. The movie business, and its problems in the WGA strike, are outside the realm of our knowledge and the scope of our writing.

Hollywood has no rhyme or reason as to which union has jurisdiction over what.

On another topic, can you explain why Oprah uses non-union writers? I just don’t see how that can be allowed — her Emmy category is the same as shows that require union writers. How does she get a pass?

Hollywood has no rhyme or reason as to which union has jurisdiction over what.

Hollywood has no rhyme or reason as to which union has jurisdiction over what.

Rena,
My understanding [and I admit to no inside information] isn’t that Letterman’s company is going to agree to whatever the WGA wants [if so, it *would* be a big positive to the WGA]. My understanding is that they will agree to a “whatever the best deal you get elsewhere we will match” type of deal. That’s a very different proposition.

I guess it makes CBS’ financial position less precarious, which may make it less desperate to agree to terms.

On another topic, can you explain why Oprah uses non-union writers? I just don't see how that can be allowed — her Emmy category is the same as shows that require union writers. How does she get a pass?

On another topic, can you explain why Oprah uses non-union writers? I just don't see how that can be allowed — her Emmy category is the same as shows that require union writers. How does she get a pass?

Rena,
My understanding [and I admit to no inside information] isn't that Letterman's company is going to agree to whatever the WGA wants [if so, it *would* be a big positive to the WGA]. My understanding is that they will agree to a “whatever the best deal you get elsewhere we will match” type of deal. That's a very different proposition.

Rena,
My understanding [and I admit to no inside information] isn't that Letterman's company is going to agree to whatever the WGA wants [if so, it *would* be a big positive to the WGA]. My understanding is that they will agree to a “whatever the best deal you get elsewhere we will match” type of deal. That's a very different proposition.