Guild urges writers to hold off ABC contracts

The Australian Writers’ Guild has urged its members not to sign new contracts circulating from ABC which seek to assign streaming and online download rights in exchange for additional fees and residuals.

ABC is understood to be seeking rights to play local shows longer on iview with producers, writers and actors.

For free streaming services, the ABC proposes to pay writers a license fee of 3.75% of their original fee. This allows the broadcaster to communicate the program for 12 non-continuous months over a period of 7 years. For paid services, additional residuals are to be paid at approximately 8.3% of net receipts on all sales.

But the AWG says the contract leaves several issues undetermined, including unlimited plays, and whether new media rights are transferable to international broadcasters without further payments to the writer.

The AWG is currently making enquiries to determine how the ABC’s contract compares with local and international industry practice.