AMPTP has temporarily broke off contract talks with the Screen Actors Guild, calling its demands on DVD sales and online content unreasonable.
"With SAG’s continued adherence to unreasonable demands in both new and traditional media, continuing negotiations at this time does not make sense," the producers said in a statement.
The guild responded in a statement by saying the producers’ decision to end talks after 18 days was unfortunate. Both sides have said they sought to avoid a repeat of the 100-day writers strike that ended in February. The union’s contract for films and primetime shows expires 6/30.
"We made significant moves in their direction," Doug Allen, the guild’s executive director, told The Associated Press. "We’re trying to get the deal done and we’re not the ones who walked away."
Allen said the guild asked for a third extension of talks that were originally set to end a week after beginning 4/15, but the producers refused, instead offering to resume talks on 5/28. No date has been agreed upon.
yesterday the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), takes its turn at the bargaining table with AMPTP, and it is expected to reach a deal quickly. Its contract also ends 6/30.
AFTRA said Tuesday it will impose a press blackout on details of its upcoming discussions, which involve actors on shows such as "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Rules of Engagement," "Cashmere Mafia" and "Til Death."
Over a week ago it said 93% of members who voted backed a separate deal with producers covering shows such as "Oprah" and "American Idol."
SAG and AFTRA had negotiated together on the theatrical movie and primetime TV contract with studios for the past 27 years but parted ways in March.
