The writers' threatened walkout was over their demands for extra payments for films repeated on the internet and on video, and over control of creative rights. In the end, the writers won better payments in some areas but had to give up their demands in others. They will receive increased payments from video and DVD sales and residuals when their work is re-run on cable TV, abroad and the internet. They will now also have the right to meet and talk with a director before a film or TV show is produced. 1 May. A strike by writers would have paralysed the television and motion picture industry and cost Los Angeles hundreds of millions of dollars.
Producers now have to focus their attention on their next major labour issue - Hollywood actors.
Their contract expires on 1 July and they are currently in talks of their own.