Skip to main content

Article C8 - Television Daily Dramatic Serials

Article C8 - Television Daily Dramatic Serials

Writers of Television Daily Dramatic Serials shall be paid at least the following minimum Script Fees (based on the broadcast length of Program):

Script Fees and Production Fees for productions with Budgets of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) or less are negotiable between the Writer and Producer.

C801 Daily Dramatic Serials
For each weekly unit of five (5) thirty (30) minute or less programs:
a. Aggregate minimum Script Fees:

  2015 2016 2017
i) one run in Canada $6,702 $6,769 $6,837
ii) one run in Canada and the United States $13,399 $13,533 $13,668

 
b. Script Fees:
For each Script on which a Writer performs writing services, such Writer shall be paid not less than:

  2015 2016 2017
i) one run in Canada $664 $670 $677
ii) one run in Canada and the United States $1,326 $1,339 $1,353

 
For each weekly unit of five (5) sixty (60) minute or less Serial programs:
c. Aggregate minimum Script Fees:

  2015 2016 2017
i) one run in Canada $13,399 $13,533 $13,668
ii) one run in Canada and the United States $26,649 $26,915 $27,184

 
d. Script Fees:
For each Script on which a Writer performs writing services, such Writer shall be paid not less than:

  2015 2016 2017
i) one run in Canada $1,368 $1,381 $1,395
ii) one run in Canada and the United States $2,736 $2,763 $2,791

 
e. If the Producer does not contract for a combined run in Canada and the United States at the time of the original contract, he may acquire a license to run the programs in the United States on payment of a step up fee to each of the Writers concerned of not less than the difference between Article C801 (b) (ii) and Article C801 (b) (i) or the difference between Article C801 (d) (ii) and Article C801 (d) (i) as the case may be; or sixty percent (60%) of the Writer’s original Script Fee, whichever is the greater.
f. In addition to the fees paid pursuant to C802 (iv) and C801(a) to (d), the Producer may acquire the right to distribute the programs for either one year of unlimited use or one airing over five years, worldwide (but excluding the US if the Producer has not licensed a run in the US pursuant to C801 (b) (ii) or Article C801 (d) (ii), on payment to the Writer(s) and Head Writer of a further payment of thirty-five percent (35%) of the contracted Script Fees and Head Writer’s fee.
g. Any further use shall be acquired upon payment to the Writer of the Distribution Royalty as calculated in Article C11.
C802 The following terms shall apply to the engagement of Writers for Daily Dramatic Serials:
i. A Writer for Daily Dramatic Serials may be contracted on a trial basis for not longer than six (6) weeks in the aggregate, after which the Producer shall contract such a Writer on a term contract in cycles of not less than thirteen (13) weeks; provided that in the case of a program in which the cycles of the Writers are coordinated, the term contract is such Writer may provide the Producer with an option to extend the first thirteen (13) week cycle for such additional number of weeks as would be required to coordinate with the cycles of the other Writers. The contract with any Writer may provide that s/he shall not perform writing services which would interfere with his/her obligation as a Writer on the Serial for which the Writer is contracted.
ii. The Producer shall give the Writer at least four (4) weeks written advance notice of cancellation of his/her cycle and failing such written notice the Writer’s contract shall be deemed renewed for the next cycle. A contract which by its own terms expires at the end of the cycle does not require any notice. The Writer’s contract may be canceled within any cycle on not less than two (2) weeks written notice provided the program goes off the air.
iii. Writers on Daily Dramatic Serials shall be in one of two categories: a) Head Writer; b) other Writers.
iv. A Head Writer shall receive not less than the aggregate minimum Script Fees reduced by the per Script minimum Script Fee payable to other Writers at the rates provided in Article C801, which in no event shall be less than five times the minimum Script Fee.
v. No Writer (other than a Head Writer) shall be hired for less than an average of one (1) Television Script per week for the term of his or her contract.
vi. For the purposes of payment there shall be no differentiation between the writing of Stories and Television Scripts with respect to Daily Dramatic Serials.

 

Back to Table of Contents