On a day of union national solidarity for the Writers Guild and the actors’ union, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) released an extensive proposal to address the highest priorities identified by the guild. The Aug. 11 proposal includes details on residuals, AI, writers’ rooms, and a new approach to transparency in metrics from streaming platforms.

The unexpected move by the AMPTP followed a meeting between WGA leadership, AMPTP leadership, and several studio CEOs. The CEOs had the opportunity to express their thoughts on the proposal to end the strike. The two sides are expected to meet again.

As part of the proposal, studios are offering the WGA “increased data transparency” in the form of quarterly confidential reports that will include viewership data per title. This transparency aims to allow the WGA to develop proposals for restructuring the current SVOD (subscription video on demand) residual system in the future.

The WGA has yet to respond publicly to the proposal, but updates will be provided as soon as they do.

Highlights of the comprehensive package offered by the AMPTP include significantly higher compensation for writers, with a compounded 13% wage increase over the three-year contract. This marks the highest wage increase for the WGA in 35 years. Minimum weekly rates for Article 14 writers would also increase by 15%, benefiting writers at different guarantee levels.

The proposal also features high budget SVOD residual increases and a new structure to train writers for future showrunning roles. Additionally, it introduces a new compensation structure for development rooms, guaranteeing writers a minimum of 10 weeks of employment and raising the week-to-week rate of pay by 43.8% for Article 14 writers.

One notable aspect of the proposal is the protection surrounding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI). Written material produced by GAI will not be considered literary material, ensuring that writers are not disadvantaged by its use.

In terms of data transparency, the AMPTP is providing viewership data in quarterly confidential reports, including total SVOD view hours per title. This increased transparency will enable the WGA to create proposals to restructure the current SVOD residual system in the future.

The AMPTP member companies are committed to reaching an agreement to end the strike and allow the industry to resume creating TV shows and movies. The full details of the proposal can be found in the provided appendix.