Come on guys, I know that upping the writers salaries will not make them better writers. But we can't ignore the fact that it would effect some of them.

I got my salary "leveled" by my company a few months ago because HR finally figured out that I am way under paid in comparison to my colleagues. Now this wasn't a RAISE or a PROMOTION, just a "leveling" but ya know what? There is a spring in my step and lately I'm pretty thrilled to be employed, even though I know I'm the lowest paid on my team.

Now apply the same effect to the TV writers.

This problem goes in line with my "Why is it that artists are less paid than managers at a game company? Without the art, there is no game!" argument that if you are an artist, you get it, if you are a middle manager, you don't get it.

"Suits" ruin everything.

axiomatic

Good point OMG-Ponies @11:49
that's what i do since I miss many shows.

though you should also add convenience to that

kayne001

@axiomatic: Upping their salaries doesn't magically make them better writers. It's not like they are sitting down at their desks currently and thinking, "hmm, I'm only getting paid $xx, so I'm only gonna make this show kinda good. If they paid me more I'd make the show better."

ninjamurf

@axiomatic: "Extra cash" laying around doesn't automatically guarantee salary increase?

Why should the writers be given a salary increase? What financial (not moral) reason is there?

Because the writers will go on strike? Okay. That means more news magazines and reality shows. If history is any indicator, the networks can weather a writers' strike with ease. Look at Survivor, Big Brother, The Weakest Link, and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and of course, American Idol.

Who knows what a writers' strike would lead to? Maybe another reality juggernaut. Maybe Oprah or Martha or some other talk show in prime time. The traditional sitcom has been gasping for breath since the demise of Must-See TV. While CBS and NBC have some decent sitcom offerings, they pale next to the makeovers and talent shows.

The last writers' strike led to reality TV and Dateline ad nauseum. A strike is a very risky card for the guild to play because Survivor and Millionaire will be thrown back in their faces.

Is it unfair to screw writers over? Probably. Does it make good business sense to screw writers over as much and as often as possible? Probably. Is it moral? Who cares.

omg-ponies

@wk1234: pffft! Like t.v. writers are any better. Have you seen what's on basic cable lately?

Cassifras

That's interesting that they don't have to pay the writers when the content is on a "free" service like Hulu. Maybe that explains why the providers like NBC are trying to get away from iTunes. Crooked Hollywood *$%@#

biker_ray_pa

@wk1234: No, its all writers. It just affects TV shows faster because they only are 2-3 shows in the can ahead of a strike, while there are plenty of movies written and getting shot and being edited to last for another year or so. I think they mentioned we wouldn't feel the effects in movies until 2009.

Oneon1isto

@omg-ponies: Well then if the networks are double dipping then there is extra cash anyway. Up those writer salaries!

I have a hard time feeling bad for studios that don't listen to their viewers and only react to business challenges. There is plenty of money flowing here, dump some middle management if you need cost savings. They weren't doing anything for your studio anyway.

axiomatic

@axiomatic: Here's the thing. Thanks to DVD, DVR, iTunes, and Bittorrent, there is an emerging trend in viewership, marked by an exacerbation of the "sophomore slump".

Serialized drama shows like Heroes, The Office, Prison Break, and 24 have tremendous first-season viewerships which the network leverages for ad time. Unfortunately, thanks to the aftermarket, which is essentially the network double-dipping (earning more money through DVD sales and rentals), viewers use the first season to see if the show is "worth it" and then just wait for the DVD release of subsequent seasons. Why worry about missing an episode when you can binge-watch an entire season a little later?

Additionally, people use timeshifting (TiVo, DVR, iTunes, Bittorrent) to watch the show commercial free (which screws up the ad rates).

Viewership doesn't drop necessarily because of bad writing; it drops because people check out the competition, knowing they can watch the show on their schedule.

omg-ponies

I heard about this on NPR last week basically they are rushing a bunch of project to production with short deadlines in fear of the looming strike. In turn this promises crappy writing. So if you thought your favorite series was losing direction last season, just wait.

Boognish

I wonder how this works for movies: if on large screen, do they get a cut, if then on DVD, do they get a cut, if on premium cable, do they get compensated.
Seems like TV will just have to consider new revenue for them must be shared with the ones that help make it happen. (writers)

wk1234

@Cassifras: I think this is only for TV, not movies. Then again, the dreck of movies lately (sequelitis, crap tv show to $$ making crap movie) means that in 10 years there will be less TV to rip into a movie.

wk1234

Wait, let me get this correct. The Studios want to ensure that the guys that make the studio shows "good" don't make too much money off of them?

Hey Studios, what if.... you doubled their salaries? Maybe the shows you already paid for might become watchable with new great stories, and your viewer audience increases two fold?

I have a feeling they don't see it this way.....

axiomatic

@DaveTyranham: Not everyone can get points off of gross. When every does that, there's not enough revenue to cover costs. That's why only special people get points off gross.

Writers are special, but only in the educational sense of the word.

omg-ponies

if the writers go on strike, who will screenplay the sequals to and remakes of actual good movies?
tip to hollywood: no one cares

Cassifras

This is why my dreams of being a musician are falling by the waysidie. While the internet is great, its impossible to track every transaction and all the data thats exchanging hands.

On one hand, you have the price of video production going WAY and I mean WAAAAAAAY down. A Red Camera setup with some video editing software and some powerful computers will run you under $100,000. The challenge is that all these dinosaur companies still have billions invested in antiquated systems that they are used using, but sum a 1 million to 20 million dollar investment. And the same this is true in the music industry only cheaper numbers. The waters ahead for any entertainment media are rocky--not a good career to pursue unless you REALLY REALLY love it.

Joseph

Points off gross for everyone including writers makes sense to me.

DaveTyranham

Personally, I think the writers should go on strike. Striking is a tried-and-true tradition in labor relations. Besides, the studios have to cave into the writers' demands or they won't have any scripted programs.

What are the studios to do without WGA writers? You need writers for television. You can't just stick a camera in the hands of some schmo and document the life of some loser. No one wants to watch a program about real life. Talent search programs? Puh-leeze. Star Search is dead. There's no way people would watch a talent show program. Game shows? Bob Barker is dead and so are game shows. No one is going to watch some lame-o gimmicky game show. Dance competitions? What is this - the Fifties? Why would anyone want to watch no name dancers and has-been celebs?

All people want to watch are sitcoms and hour-long dramas. The traditional sitcom and the hour-long will always be around. The studios have to cave in.

omg-ponies