Writers Guild Reaches Tentative Four-Year Deal with Studios

The Writers Guild of America reached a tentative four-year deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on Saturday. This agreement extends the usual three-year contract term by one year. It must still be approved by the WGA board and ratified by members.

The deal includes increases to the health plan and pension, as well as protections related to streaming video on demand and artificial intelligence training. These elements align with the guild's priorities for bolstering compensation and addressing technological advancements. The agreement aims to enhance residuals for streaming content and improve minimum pay rates for writers.

Sources differ on the financial losses of the WGA's health fund, with The Hollywood Reporter stating a $122 million loss in 2023 and 2024, while Variety reports a $200 million loss over the last four years. This contradiction highlights varying assessments of the fund's challenges due to declining Hollywood work and rising health care costs.

Despite the discrepancy, both sources agree that the health fund was a key negotiation point.

The WGA's negotiation team was led by chief negotiator Ellen Stutzman and co-chairs John August and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel. The AMPTP is now headed by president Gregory Hessinger, who succeeded Carol Lombardini in 2025. This marks the first major talks since the 148-day strike in 2023 over issues like streaming residuals and AI.

Prior to these negotiations, the WGA outlined demands including higher minimum compensation rates, better residuals for streaming reuse, and expanded AI protections. The union sought to raise pay for page-one rewrites and for writers in post-production, comedy, variety, and quiz shows. These demands reflect ongoing efforts to adapt to industry changes.

Writer employment has declined significantly, dropping 9.4 percent from 2023 to 2024 and 24.3 percent below 2022 levels, according to the guild's reports. This contraction has affected all levels of the business, reducing opportunities for members. The deal could help mitigate some of these effects by improving financial security.

The agreement contrasts with the 2023 strike, which lasted 148 days and focused on similar issues. Unlike last time, the WGA did not seek strike authorization this cycle, indicating less appetite for disruption. This early deal, reached nearly a month before the May 1 contract expiration, may influence negotiations with SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America, whose contracts expire on June 30.

The AMPTP represents major companies including Netflix, Warner Bros., Universal, and Paramount. This deal could set a template for common issues across unions, such as AI and streaming residuals. Overall, it addresses critical concerns in a contracting industry.