Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1280987
36 SAG-AFTRA | Summer 2020 | sagaftra.org I'm thankful the members voted up the contract. It's humbling to serve on the negotiating committee and know the responsibility we hold to our membership. — William Charlton, SAG-AFTRA Vice President, Actors/Performers and Negotiating Committee member Understanding Broadcast Syndication E ven without any change to the contracts, reliable research shows a projected drop in future broadcast syndication of 50% over the next three years, which means potential residuals from broadcast syndication will fall from $95.8 million to $43 million over the next five years. The continuing decline of a business model based on local stations broadcasting linear, appointment television is inevitable. Streaming is the future. That's what the new contracts secure. Each year, there are approximately 1,500 covered live-action series running on streaming platforms; but only 17 of these are running in off-network broadcast syndication (about 1%). There are over 100 new high-budget series being produced each year for streaming platforms. The new broadcast syndication formula provides an opportunity for members to receive new residuals for shows that would never have syndicated previously because the license fee is less than the total residuals due. (The 17 shows currently in broadcast syndication continue in syndication under their current formulas. For as long as existing licenses remain active, nothing changes.) The new streaming residuals formula will benefit nearly every principal performer who appears on a high-budget program made under the new agreement for a subscription-based streaming platform — the fastest-growing segment of our business. The high-budget SVOD gains (26%–45% increase) will exceed changes to the broadcast syndication formula within two to three years and dramatically surpass them ever after. That's called a good deal. Visit sagaftra.org/contracts2020 for additional information and FAQs.