Today, Explained Hollywood writers are ready to strike
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Apr 18, 2023 
Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg business reporter and author of 'Screen Time,' discusses the looming writers' strike in Hollywood. He reflects on the 2007 strike's impact, which reshaped the industry and empowered writers. Shaw highlights ongoing frustrations over pay and the challenges posed by streaming services, where stark contrasts exist between top earners and average writers. He warns of a potential content drought for studios if the strike occurs, emphasizing the ripple effects on industry workers and the future of television.
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Writers' Demands
- Writers want higher pay, claiming average salaries have declined.
- More writers work for minimum pay, and streaming has further disadvantaged them.
Declining Writer Salaries
- Despite increased TV production, writers' average salaries, adjusted for inflation, have decreased.
- Shorter seasons and streaming's impact on residuals contribute to this decline.
Residual Disparity
- Streaming residuals are significantly lower than network residuals.
- For example, an episode re-airing on a network earns $13,500, while streaming earns $700.