SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement: A Lasting Impact

As workers battled some of the biggest corporations in America, the outcome will have lasting ramifications for the industry both in the US and abroad. The new Joint SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement went into effect on March 5th, 2017, and the effects of this will be felt internationally. The SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement changed the way media can be used in marketing and release of new media.

The SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement covers new media. The new media is not 15 minutes of fame, but it may increase your 15 minutes on the internet. The new media is any paid service delivering video or audio over the internet, but does not include the use of radio, television, IPTV, or commercial free basic cable. SAG-AFTRA will cover internet content except commercials and other promotional materials. Internet websites that are ads, trailers, sales materials, contests, song parades, and other types such as e-cards, text walls, e-seminars, and podcasts are part of the new media covered by the SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement. SAG-AFTRA covers entertainers, voiceover actors, singers, and stunt performers.

SAG-AFTRA’s history begins with employees at the top media establishments striking out to negotiate better media production, labor, and other conditions. The media industry has a history of labor battles from the first media union, the National Federation of Broadcasting Staff to the merger of SAG with AFTRA. The original union was the National Broadcasting Company founded by Edwin S. Armstrong. Armstrong’s original intent was to convert radio into a functioning industry. The creation of public radio and television laid the foundation for the internet. News, education, entertainment, and other media is experienced through radio and television. Today, internet streaming and other media streaming is beginning to rival these earlier forms of media. The increase in paid content on the internet indicates the increase in the importance of streaming content and media.

SAG-AFTRA has a history of providing media industry labor standards from the television commercials to other promotion of internet and other media. The SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement is a reflection of these historical labor standards and practices. The SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement has increased the minimums broadcasters must pay, and that will effect broadcasting in the US and abroad. The SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement addresses new media programming, which include episodic, documentary, promotional, specials, sports, and other programming available in streaming formats on the internet.

Proposed producers and stars of new media programs must follow the SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement, which dictates the fees for new media talent. SAG-AFTRA members with contracts must be paid directly by the intended production company. Salaries are not by if, but how much. Productions will have to determine the fees for contributors to their streaming media productions.

Actors must make sure they are receiving their residual payments as agreed to in the SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement, where their contract allows them to be paid twice a year within 45 days after the end of the six-month period. Payments related to residuals according to the SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement are outlined.

Internationally, television, radio, and film industries rely on actors from the US and abroad performing in their media. Castings for international media productions rely on the SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement to standardize minimums in casting, contracts, payments, and residual fees. Shifting media outside of the US and into other markets affects how distributors, producers, and networks address international media agreements like the SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement. The SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement looks to the future and the growth of internet media.

The SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement effects international media agreements, but each country may have unique industry issues. The issues are not to be overlooked. Egypt’s media has shifted with minimal attention, and the history of the Arabic media relates to the SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement. Egypt had a crisis when it comes to media, and the crisis involved other foreign countries making major investments in media networks and content. Sonic Video Company was able to dominate the DVD market and other video production following the SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement. Heavy investments and the number of foreign investors outweigh the Egyptian investors in the country’s media. Still foreign interest in Egyptian media is down.

At one time Egypt had the most governments in the Middle East invest in its media and media content. Foreign investment in Egypt and other Arab countries continues to grow with digital and wireless. The increase in digital and wireless in Egypt will help Egypt catch up to other countries and their current technology. The SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement will help in the process by giving the medi industry, foreign investors, and Arab countries instant access to SAG-AFTRA members. The SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement looks like it will have a lasting effect on the media landscape in Arab countries and the rest of the world.