DAVID LETTERMAN - CONTROVERSY ROARS OVER WGA-LETTERMAN DEAL

CONTROVERSY ROARS OVER WGA-LETTERMAN DEAL

Following a deal that appeared to raise more questions than it answered, David Letterman's production company and the Writers Guild of America said Friday that Letterman's Late Show will be able to return to the air on Wednesday with its original writers and that Craig Ferguson's Late, Late Show will be allowed to do the same. Both shows are produced by Letterman's Worldwide Pants company. According to news reports, negotiators for Letterman agreed to accept proposals presented by the WGA to the AMPTP before negotiations broke down, including a new residual formula for Internet replay of his programs. Precise terms were not disclosed. But questions immediately arose as to how residual payments will be calculated given the fact that the two programs, while produced independently, are distributed and sold on the Internet by CBS. For its part, CBS said, "CBS controls the Internet exploitation rights for both programs, and will comply with any eventual negotiated agreement between the AMPTP and the WGA" -- a statement apparently meant to imply that the writers have gained nothing from the deal. On the other hand, news reports suggested that the deal will put extraordinary pressure on NBC and ABC to settle the strike since Letterman will now have the advantage of not only being able to present his shows with a full complement of writers but also will be able to attract celebrities who may be reluctant to appear on programs that remain struck. There was no suggestion that CBS would decline to broadcast the new Letterman shows. (Oddly, Daily Variety's online report about the WGA-Letterman deal was datelined Baghdad.)

31/12/2007