Posted by Cara (66.28.242.98) on January 05, 2008 at 09:01:05:
I must admit, for the past couple of months our family hasn't even turned on the TV in the evenings. There's really no point. We rent DVD's. Which makes me realize how important it is that the writers get a cut from DVD's and other digital media. It's their product. It's very unfair that others benefit from digital media but not the writers. I totally back up their argument, but I do fear that the same outcome will happen as it did 20 years ago when they last went on strike - they'll go back to work on empty promises that won't be kept.
Full Disclosure: I'm a member of AFTRA and a big issue is big corporations profiting from new media (online streaming, etc), but not those who provide the talent/writing are seeing any monetary increases. Sometimes those writers/talent are even required to work more to accommodate the new media for free. So I have quite a bit of empathy for the writers on strike.
The talk show hosts that were forced to got back to work were put in a really tough position. They really had no choice. But I have a great deal of respect for the Lettermen team for coming to an agreement with their writers, and if I am up late that would be one show I'd watch.