The Stage

New Equity report to address future of broadcasting

Published Tuesday 3 July 2007 at 16:10 by Matthew Hemley

Equity is to launch a major consultation on the future of the television industry and how changes within it will affect its members.

Called Television is Changing, the report will address the number of new platforms available to performers and update members on the negotiations Equity has been having with broadcasters in light of these.

In particular, it will talk about the union’s plans to replace existing television agreements with a single, pan-industry agreement.

The inquiry comes as the BBC prepares to launch its iPlayer, allowing consumers the opportunity to access programmes online, and ITV announced it would be commissioning online-only content for its new broadband site ITV.com.

In addition, more and more actors are being employed for podcasts, specially commissioned mobile phone content and video games.

The consultation will seek to inform members about these new technologies and explain how performers can get the most out of the increased opportunities.

Equity said it was an “attempt to look at the emerging trends and identify ways to secure the best terms and conditions and ongoing rights for members in this new world”.

It is understood that the consultation will look at how fees should be structured, as well as how royalties will work with the influx of new platforms. This will mean building on its agreements in the short term to make the “best possible arrangements” to cope with new uses and secure proper rewards for performers.

However, in the long term, the union explained there would be a “fundamental change” in the structure of “payments, rights and rewards” for members.

To coincide with the new document, Equity will be launching a special website containing information that members can download.

Equity spokesman Martin McGrath said: “The consultation will call on members to give us their views on the changing industry and make sure members understand their rights.

“Equity has always been ahead of the game in terms of negotiating deals for its members and we hope that it will stay ahead of the game by encouraging members to think about their futures.”

He did not say when the consultation would be launched, but it is understood that it will be rolled out from next month.