At its April meeting Equity council endorsed the proposal to extend the existing Video on Demand (VoD) agreement with Channel 4 for its 2008 service. An adjustment to the fees paid under the the earlier 2006/7 VoD agreement was also agreed.

During the period of the 2006/7 Video on Demand agreement, the number of viewers accessing the service exceeded C4’s expectations and, as a result, C4 made additional payments to Equity on behalf of our members – as provided for in the earlier agreement.

As with the previous agreement with C4, BECS will administer and distribute all the money paid by the broadcaster. BECS will receive an administration fee to cover the cost of the service they provide.

 Andy Prodger, assistant general secretary for the Film, Television and Radio Department, commented that “this is another landmark agreement negotiated by Equity on behalf of the members and demonstrates that Equity is successfully facing the challenges that technology brings to the television industry”.

AGREEMENT FOR 2008

Equity Council at its April Meeting endorsed the following proposal to extend the existing Video on Demand agreement with Channel 4 for its 2008 service.  A reconciliation of the earlier 2006/7 VoD agreement was also agreed. 

The Agreement for 2008        

• A guaranteed combined six-figure minimum payment for both their Free Video on Demand service and their Subscription Video on Demand service. 
• This payment will cover the period 27^th March 2008 to 31^st December 2008 for Free Video on Demand (FVoD) which includes 10 hours a week going into catch-up, plus stacking and a rolling archive.
• Payment for the Television/Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) service covers the period 27^th March 2008 to 31^st March 2008 and includes catch-up and rolling archive.
• Any overages (higher consumer take up than provided for) on the SVoD service shall be reconciled at the end of the agreed period.
• Should views/hits on FVoD increase over the period then C4 and Equity will enter into good faith negotiations over the fees. 

The 2006/2007 Reconciliation 

• During the course of the agreed period for FVoD and SVoD during 2006/7 the number of views exceeded Channel 4’s expectations and therefore C4 made additional ‘overage’ payments as per the agreement with Equity.

 As with the previous agreement with Channel 4 BECS will administer and distribute all the money paid by C4.  BECS will receive an administration fee on top of the money paid, to cover the cost of the service they provide. Andy Prodger, Assistant General Secretary Film, Television and Radio Department commented that ‘this is another landmark agreement negotiated by Equity on behalf of the members and demonstrates that Equity is successfully facing the challenges that technology brings to the television industry.’

Members who feel that Internet video-sharing site YouTube contains material featuring their work that is being distributed without proper authorisation should know that there is a straightforward way in which they can have the worked removed.

YouTube has created a Content Verification Tool specifically designed to allow content owners to locate and notify the company of potentially infringing content. The service provides an easy-to-use interface where content owners can request that material be removed. A simple one page form allows YouTube to generate the appropriate DCMA notification that is needed to take down offending content.

Because the service is automated and works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it is the fastest way of dealing with complaints.

Rights owners (including performers) can sign up for the service at:

http://youtube.com/t/copyright_program

Once your application has been submitted, YouTube will follow up by providing you with a tutorial and login information to get you started and on your way.

A closed trial lasting six months and encompassing 20,000 homes will give viewers access 950 hours of BBC archive material dating back to the 1940s.

Equity council agreed to support the trial after negotiations by union representatives secured a £100,000 payment.

The money will be distributed amongst those members whose work is used.

“Although the sums of money involved are relatively small,” Andy Prodger said. “The payment is important in establishing the right of our members to be rewarded when their work is used in this way.