A series of meetings have been held with some progress being made. The members of Equity’s Television Working Party which include agents and the Equity Council have been consulted with and updated on the regular basis.

In addition to the on-going negotiations additional meetings have been scheduled to enable representatives from Equity to discuss with the BBC diversity and the casting of actors, credits, walk-on and supporting artists.

 An Equity/BBC production forum will also be established which for the first time will enable the BBC, representatives from its drama production teams and Equity to meet and exchange views regarding current matters of concern.

Finally if you have been offered an engagement by the BBC and if the fee includes any ADR, fitting, read throughs, rehearsals sessions and overtime do please inform Equity’s BBC TV Organiser Ian Bayes. By doing this you will be can helping Equity to put pressure on the BBC to have this practice stopped. 

Ian Bayes Direct line – 020 7670 0252 or email – ibayes@equity.org.uk

Survey findings show backing for union approach

Equity Council at its meeting September 4, 2007 endorsed a limited, but significant, number of changes to the existing Equity/PACT Television Production Agreement.A survey of Equity members has found significant support for a single television agreement and backs the union’s approach to future payments for the use of television work.

The questionnaire was designed to get feedback from Equity members as part of the TV is Changing initiative and is available from www.tvischanging.com/questionnaire.

The key findings are:

* Two thirds (66 per cent) agree or strongly agree that Equity should have a single television agreement.

* On primary payments – a majority (56 per cent) think their initial fee should pay only for work done, or an initial TV broadcast.

* On secondary payments – there was support for a continued use of residual and royalty payments for repeats and sales.

* Over half (51 per cent) believe that the best way to pay for future uses will be a combination of residual, royalty and collective licensing.

* 40 per cent have experienced their TV work being used without appropriate payments being made.

* 1 in 10 are aware of their work being available on the internet illegally.

Equity General Secretary Christine Payne said:

“Members views are vital in informing the discussions that we are having with broadcasters and producers, so that we can be sure we represent their views.

“It is encouraging to see that the results so far tell us we’re on the right track.

“I would urge all Equity members working in television to get involved by filling in the survey.”

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.

Equity will meet with representatives of all the major broadcasters and independent producers in the British television industry this October.The union hopes these talks will represent the first steps towards a pan-industry agreement that will bring together the best of the many individual deals that currently exist.

“A single deal across the whole television industry has long been Equity’s goal,” Assistant General Secretary Andy Prodger said. “But this is the first time that there has been a real prospect of achieving that aim.

In the material produced as part of the TV is Changing campaign, Equity has argued that a single agreement, properly implemented, would be the most sensible approach for the an industry facing dramatic change.

The union also believes that a single deal would be good for Equity members as it would be more transparent, easier to monitor and better able to respond to changing circumstances.

But Andy Prodger sounded a note of caution ahead of the talks.

“We want a pan-industry agreement. We think it would be good for our members and good for our industry,” he said. “But our enthusiasm and optimism does not blind us to the need to protect our members interests. If the deal is not right, if our members are asked to bear too much of the cost, we will end the talks.”

“We will not pursue a deal at any cost.”