Equity and PACT reach agreement

Posted on October 16, 2007

New settlement for 2008

Equity Council at its meeting September 4, 2007 endorsed a limited, but significant, number of changes to the existing Equity/PACT Television Production Agreement.

* All financial elements within the agreement will increase by 7.6%. The new minimum engagement fee has therefore risen from £443.10 to £477 and the production day payment has risen from £49.10 to £53

* The new rates will come into effect from the January 1, 2008

* Introduction of provisions for productions made for UK secondary channels e.g. BBC3/4, ITV2/3/4, E4 and More 4 etc. The artist’s aggregate earnings shall acquire nine transmission days/periods (instead of the first UK Network transmission). A transmission day/period enables a title to be transmitted up to a maximum of four times over a 24 hour period.

* The 35% Rest of World pre-purchase remains in place where the production is co-produced or co-financed or if the production receives a transmission within two months of its first transmission on a UK secondary channel

* In circumstances where the 35% hasn’t been pre-purchased and the production company secure a sale then the producer has the option to pay either the 35% or apply the 17% royalty

* Both Equity and PACT share concerns that the new provisions are not used to produce “cheap” programming for the current terrestrial channels and will therefore be monitoring the application of the provisions very closely

* The so called “common clauses” have now been fully incorporated within the main agreement

Pending the outcome of pan-industry discussions the new amended agreement will only be available electronically from Equity.

TV is Changing • Equity