Hollywood on verge of deal to end writers strike

HOLLYWOOD ON VERGE OF DEAL TO END WRITERS STRIKE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Bob Tourtellotte]
Negotiators for Hollywood studios and striking writers have agreed to terms of a new contract that could be presented to union leaders in days and, if approved, end their three-month-old labor clash later this week. One source said the big breakthrough in the latest round of talks, which began January 23, came on the key sticking point of how much writers should be paid for advertising-supported Internet "streaming" of television shows. That source also characterized the writers' agreement in principle as an improvement over the terms of an earlier, separate contract deal for Hollywood directors that helped pave the way for studios and the WGA to resume bargaining after weeks of stalemate. TV executives regard February 15 as a de facto deadline for putting writers back to work in time to salvage what's left of the current broadcast season and development of new scripted shows for next fall. For movie studios, early March is seen as the last chance for avoiding major disruptions to the 2009 release schedule.
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0460617520080205