ANA Marketing Maestros

SAG/AFTRA Negotiations: "Both Sides Working Together and Recognizing One Another's Critical Needs"

This statement was issued by JPC Chief Negotiator Doug Wood as the advertising industry and performer's union tentatively agreed on a two-year extension to the current Commercial Contracts.

In addition to selecting a consultant for the joint compensation study, AFTRA, SAG and the JPC agreed that:

• Along with advertisements that appear on TV, radio and the Internet, the agreement will also cover all commercials that appear in new media—for existing platforms such as cell phones and for future platforms yet to be developed.
• The agreement provides advertisers with more flexibility to edit commercials for the Internet and new media.
• A New Media Committee, comprised of representatives from both the unions and the industry, will be empowered to make adjustments to the agreement to accommodate changing technologies and shifting paradigms within the commercials industry.

This is a great sign of progress. The marketing community should be thrilled about this compromise.

Wanted: Expert to Develop Talent Payment Methodology

It goes without saying that there has been tremendous change in the media landscape since the current talent compensation model was established, back in the 1950s.

As a result, the Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Union Relations (JPC), the entity that represents the advertising industry in contract negotiations with the major talent unions, issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for an independent consultant.  They are searching for this consultant to develop alternate methods to compensate actors for their participation in commercials that appear on television and radio as well as in the growing array of new media.

The RFQ is intended to identify individuals with experience in television, radio and labor relations, who have the expertise to study the concerns of both the advertisers and the unions and propose alternative methods of compensation. The resulting approaches will be offered for consideration in this fall’s bargaining process surrounding the advertising industry’s contract with SAG/AFTRA, which expires on October 29, 2006.

Click here for more information on the JPC's Request for Credentials.