February 10, 2012 - The 2011-2014 AFTRA Network Code is out for ratification to AFTRA members. If ratified, and that is expected, all changes will go into effect as of February 23, 2012.
In addition to the general 2% rate increase, promo rates will go up this time. These rates will be in effect through November 15, 2014.
$323 On-Camera [no change]
$240 Voice-over [increased from $234]
$410 Value Added Promo Voice-over [increased from $400]
$ 93 Tag
$ 97 Extra [no change]
16.6% AFTRA Health & Retirement [increased from 15.6%]
This is the first time in many years there have been significant changes to the AFTRA Network Code Promo provisions in addition to increases in rates. Until the Code is ratified, AFTRA will not release an official Memorandum of Agreement with the actual contract language for changes. However, the description of the changes in the summary that AFTRA sent to their members with the ballot is below.
Paragraphs A and B below apply only to promos for a single episode of a series. These provisions would not apply to promos for a series as a whole or for stand-alone “specials”. These are new discounts, where producers may just pay for either two [paragraph B] or three [paragraph A] promos in a session, but are allowed to record up to 5 spots for that rate.
We believe the second section of Paragraph B will probably replace the current language in the Code [Section 10.H.(2)] which required announcers to be paid $250 per year the promo was in syndication. However, we will not be able to confirm how this new language meshes with existing provisions until the Memorandum of Agreement is issued.
AFTRA ballot summary excerpts:
The provisions covering promotional announcements for programs in first-run and “off network” syndication have been restructured to address the realities of the promo business and to ensure that compliance with the Network Code can be more easily monitored and enforced. In addition, we have negotiated new terms for announcers working on sports events which are exhibited on cable television. These proposed changes are set out below:
16. Announcers and Promotional Announcements
The provisions covering promotional announcements for programs in first-run and “off network” syndication have been restructured to address the realities of the promo business and to ensure that compliance with the Network Code can be more easily monitored and enforced. In addition, we have negotiated new terms for announcers working on sports events which are exhibited on cable television. These proposed changes are set out below:
A. Add a new provision to the Network Code regarding promos produced for programs made for first-run syndication, which provides the Producer an election for a package payment of three times the promo fee (e.g., $240 x 3 = $720) for a session in which the Producer may record up to five promos per episode of a series being distributed in first-run syndication.
B. Add a new provision to the Network Code regarding promos made for programs being released in off-network syndication, which provides the Producer an election for a package payment at the time of the original engagement of two times the promo fee (e.g., $240 x 2 = $480) for a session in which the Producer may record up to five promos per episode of a series being distributed in “off-network” syndication.
An additional advance payment of $35 for each year of the episodes license period shall permit use during the entire license period of all promos recorded for a given episode of a series. For second and subsequent license sales, the applicable fee shall be $25 per year per episode, payable at the time of the second or subsequent sale.
C. To further facilitate the enforcement of the Network Code provisions governing promotional announcements recorded for programs released in off-network syndication, the parties shall add a “transfer of rights agreement” applicable to promotional announcements.
Please contact Kat Krone or Muriel Katz if you have any questions.
• Kat: 818.303.7331 / kkrone@teamservices.net
• Muriel: 818.441.5215 / mkatz@teamservices.net
