The Writers Strike: The Pressure To Settle

There's pressure from all quarters to settle the (now) nearly two-month-old writer's strike and get everyone back to work.
Rank and file members of the Writer's Guild of America are reportedly pressuring the top brass to get back to the bargaining table. Says the "Los Angeles Times":
"Six weeks into a costly strike, (members are) pressing union leaders to get the talks back on track -- and fast -- fearful that the Directors Guild of America might open its own contract negotiations with the Hollywood studios as early as next week.
That could undermine the writers' leverage, because the directors might not make all the demands that the writers have made. The writers don't want another union to set their agenda. Among the writers urging fresh talks are some of the guild's most powerful members, those responsible for the day-to-day operations of popular TV shows, which are quickly running out of original episodes."
Meanwhile, the studios and the broadcast networks are feeling the heat as well. Already, most of the networks are seeing lower ratings this season compared with the 2006-07 period. NBC--which has been feeling the audience drop off more acutely than the other networks--confirmed this past week it had returned a reported $10 million dollars to advertisers, because the ratings for NBC shows have not reached the levels the network promised at the beginning of the season. And if the strike isn't settled soon--with popular series going back into production--the other networks may have to give back some of their revenues as well.
And the networks are either out of new episodes or the cupboard is nearly bare. According to "USA Today," ABC has just one new episode of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives" left; and three installments of "Ugly Betty." CBS is down to two new "CSI" episodes and three of "Without A Trace." Fox has three new episodes left of "House" and "Bones;" NBC has exhausted its supply of new "30 Rock" and "The Office" episodes, but does have six installments of the critically-acclaimed "Friday Night Lights" in the wings.
Veteran writers who lived through the 1988 WGA strike remember what happened after that walkout: More reality programs, fewer new series episodes and a significant chunk of the networks' audience moving to cable. Worse, some viewers may not return to the traditional networks, even if the strike ends. And if all viewers have to look forward to are third-rate reality competitions and tabloid news magazines this winter, it could be a chilly one for the broadcasters.
Until next time, happy viewing!

Mike Spadoni