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What Happens To Your TV If There's A U.S. Writers' Strike This Spring?
The people who write the shows you watch on both broadcast TV and the streaming services aren't happy with their compensation and they're talking seriously about laying down their pens in search of a new deal this spring.
If that comes to pass, what happens to all your entertainment? The answer, if the past is any evidence, is a shutdown of almost every single show, ranging from movies and scripted weekly television programs to late night TV talk shows. And probably (sigh) a ramp-up of even more bogus reality series.
But if there's any silver lining to a walkout, it's that you can expect to see what happened the last time - the importing of programs from "foreign" sources, which would include Canada, a tremendous opportunity for home grown talent. But needless to say, everyone hopes it never gets that far.
So what's the issue? According to the linked article, producers and networks that used to have 22-episode seasons have cut many of those orders in half or less, leading to fewer scripts, smaller rerun residuals and not as many opportunities for the scribes who write the entertainment we all tune in every night. Add streaming to the mix and it means there could be a lot of new issues there never were before.
Which means it could be a very long summer and fall on the small and big screens if any strike drags on. Now where did I put all those books I've been meaning to read?
Going Off Script: Can Hollywood Survive a Writers Strike in the Streaming Age?
- Glen Warren
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Re: What Happens To Your TV If There's A U.S. Writers' Strike This Spring?
Well, the last Writer's Guild strike in 1999 or 2000 gave birth to "Survivor" and the genre known as "Reality" television...
So, it most likely will be another significant nail in the coffin of prime time episodic series for broadcast tv.
- Walter
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Re: What Happens To Your TV If There's A U.S. Writers' Strike This Spring?
It might get better?
- MJ Vancouver
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Re: What Happens To Your TV If There's A U.S. Writers' Strike This Spring?
I remember there was a strike in 2007 - we ended up with quite a few US shows having shortened seasons in 2008, with more reruns - and more reality shows in the end. That was pre-streaming, so it will be interesting to see what happens this time.
- paterson1
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Re: What Happens To Your TV If There's A U.S. Writers' Strike This Spring?
Judging by the ratings for OTA TV in the US at least, not nearly as many people are watching broadcast network scripted shows anymore. This is why so many series seasons now only run 8 to 16 episodes rather than the former 20-24. Also the scripted dramas and comedy series are expensive to produce and the investment isn't always recouped.
Scheduling a cheap game show or reality program in prime time gets about the same number of viewers and much easier to recover costs.
Profits from a successful scripted series are huge (Criminal Minds, Big Bang Theory, Seinfeld ) if it can be streamed with decent viewership and with syndication. Problem is a lot of the current series are not near as popular and end up with shorter seasons or getting cancelled. They end up not being syndicated and have low streaming viewership with fewer shows offered.
We may see some movies appear in prime time if the strike happens for a long period. Late night talk TV might not be effected as much as years ago since they already show a lot more repeats than before. Or maybe some hosts will pull a Johnny Carson and write their own monologues. Didn't Conan do this as well?
A long strike could effect some of the streamers. However quite a few of the popular original and acquired streaming shows are produced outside of the US. Streaming networks aren't on the same schedule as OTA networks and may have purchased and produced shows and series that they haven't even released yet.
Funny thing is, as the article points out, overall there is a lot more production and script writing taking place than even 10 years ago. But since all of these programs are now on so many more networks and channels, the audience is being spread thin. Many writers and those behind the scenes are getting work but not seeing enough or any monetary benefits.
- Glen Warren
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Re: What Happens To Your TV If There's A U.S. Writers' Strike This Spring?
MJ Vancouver wrote:
I remember there was a strike in 2007 - we ended up with quite a few US shows having shortened seasons in 2008, with more reruns - and more reality shows in the end. That was pre-streaming, so it will be interesting to see what happens this time.
Yes, this was the strike referenced in the linked article above. Rather pro-longed, it really had the WGA focusing on Streaming and productions going to a digital platform(s). Producers were trying to get around some language and conditions by claiming that their production(s) was not intended for conventional broadcast television, so the conditions in the contract didn't apply.... or something along those lines...
- mace
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Re: What Happens To Your TV If There's A U.S. Writers' Strike This Spring?
There were strikes as well in 1973, 1981, 1985 and 1988.
- RadioActive
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Re: What Happens To Your TV If There's A U.S. Writers' Strike This Spring?
Interesting to note that some shows - like Quantum Leap and Night Court - are already shooting next season's episodes, perhaps as insurance in case the writers do leave their keyboards. Not sure how many other shows that have wrapped for 2023 will also be doing this, but it will at least ensure some new programming available if the layoff is a long one.
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