Writers Strike Could Be “Interesting Opportunity” For Producers Outside U.S., Says CAA Global TV Head Ted Miller – MIA Market

deadline.com:

The looming writers strike in the U.S. could be an “interesting opportunity” for producers working outside the country in an era of globalized content, CAA’s head of Global TV Ted Miller told a panel at the MIA Market in Rome on Thursday. “I think there’s likely going to be a writers strike,” he said. “I’m not a prognosticator, but they seem to be leaning that way because the writers feel they have leverage if they strike on some of the very important issues that are meaningful to them,” he said.

The Writers Guild Of America (WGA) is currently limbering up for negotiations with the U.S. studios, networks and streamers over the updating of their current contract which expires on May 1, 2023.

Having been on the backfoot during the last negotiations in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the guild is determined to address key issues like minimum pay rates, streaming residuals as well as pension and health benefits.   “For producers making content outside of the U.S., especially English language content, I think there’ll be a really interesting opportunity as we head towards that strike date in May.

There will be an appetite at the U.S. buyers, streamers or otherwise for content,” said Miller. “Strikes happen fairly frequently in the U.S.