Deal 'may end US writers' strike'

Writers are still on strike but awaiting details of a deal

There is optimism that the writers' strike in the US could be resolved at the weekend, according to reports.

It is expected a three-year deal will be presented to writers on Saturday, aiming for ratification by Sunday.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has been conducting confidential talks with studio bosses to resolve the dispute, which began on 5 November.

Scriptwriters want to be paid more for films and TV shows that are downloaded from the internet or sold on DVD.

The Los Angeles Times said guild leaders would put the contract to thousands of members at two meetings in Los Angeles and New York.

Approval

If accepted, the WGA's board could approve the contract on Sunday and urge writers back to work the following day, the newspaper added.

But industry journal Variety said there was some concern from guild members about the potential deal.

"I'm going to hear what they have to say on Saturday before I decide," striking writer Jim Kouf told the publication.

Striking writers hope for deal

"I do not want us to prematurely accept a bad contract, after everything we've been through."

Any deal would have to be approved by a majority of the guild's active members, which number more than 10,000.

If agreement is reached, studio executives said it would take about two months for new programmes to emerge.

Some experts calculate episodes could cost an extra $200,000 (£102,700) each because of the extra costs to restart production.

Cancellation risk

Studios will have to decide which of the 65 affected series will come back, with hits House, CSI, Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives likely to get priority.

Other series including Cane and Bionic Woman are at risk of cancellation, according to the LA Times.

Movies have been less severely affected because they have longer production times.

Two high profile productions, the Da Vinci Code prequel Angels and Demons and Johnny Depp's Shantaram, could be up and running quickly.

A deal would also guarantee that this month's Academy Awards ceremony will take place as planned on 24 February.

The strike has hit film and TV production across the US and caused the cancellation of last month's Golden Globes awards ceremony.