DISNEY - WRITERS, PRODUCERS RETURNING TO THE TABLE

Informal talks between Patric Verrone and David Young of the Writers Guild of America on the one hand and Disney CEO Robert Iger and News Corp President Peter Chernin on the other are expected to take place in Los Angeles tomorrow to determine whether full-scale negotiations between the writers and the studios can resume. No formal talks between the two sides have taken place since Dec. 7, when the studios broke off discussions, saying publicly that they would not entertain the WGA's demands to have jurisdiction over reality and animated shows and films. It was not clear whether the writers would agree to remove those issues from the negotiations -- or whether the producers would continue to insist that they do so. Many observers expect that the two sides will agree to focus on the recently negotiated contract with the Directors Guild of America as a possible "framework" for a deal with the WGA.

21/01/2008