FWICE Vs Producers: Strike called off
The standoff between the Federation of Western India Cine Workers (FWICE) and the producers has been sorted out. It is understood from sources close to the development that the strike has been called off. When asked, a few broadcasters said that they had not officially heard about this yet. A formal communication from the producers is expected only by 6.00 pm today.
Day 10 may not yet herald the end of the repeat telecast problems on Hindi general entertainment channels, but the genesis of the situation, which was the standoff between the Federation of Western India Cine Workers (FWICE) and the producers, has been sorted out on November 19.
At a meeting between the active producers that included the likes of Star Fox’s Deepak Segal, Hatsoff Productions’ JD Majethia and Sanjay Wadhwa, among others, and the FWICE, both parties have been able to reach agreeable terms that now allow FWICE to commence work without any interruption, and consequently, the producers to be able to continue with their content supply to channels.
An anonymous note sent out to various members of the industry after the meeting completed, stated, “All broadcasters have decided that as soon as the ongoing strike of FWICE is over, all the on-going contracts with the producers will be reopened, and the producers would be asked to take a cut in their profit margins.”
The note further said, “There will be three categories of rates: For prime time fiction programmes that are aired between 8 pm and 11 pm; for non-prime time fiction programming – that are shows aired during the afternoon and other off-prime time hours; and for reality programming. Therefore, broadcasters would reopen ongoing contracts and budgets with the producers, only for reduction of costs.”
The note added that “a letter stating the above would be sent to all producers, except Balaji Telefilms, as STAR CEO Uday Shankar has categorically mentioned to – and convinced – all broadcasters that Balaji Telefilms Ltd is not supporting the producers or the Federation, but are in support of the broadcasters.”
However, no official communication had been sent to any of the broadcasters till 5.30 pm on November 19. The broadcasters are still waiting to hear the terms on which the strike has been called off.
With the strike called off, even in the current scenario, only the channels that have some banked episodes, or the channels that would have format or reality shows, would be able to begin their programming within a day. Otherwise, it is expected that all channels would be able to begin full-fledged fresh episodes across all slots only by November 24, 2008.
Also read:
FWICE Vs Producers: Countdown for compensation from broadcasters begins
