Word is that the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), and the Joint Policy Committee of the Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies (JPC) are amenable to temporarily extending the expiration date of their current commercials contract. The actors’ pact is scheduled to expire on Oct. 29.
If the extension comes to pass, it would be agreed to on the grounds that more time is needed for the two sides–the actors’ unions and the JPC–to properly consider alternate compensation models for performers in spots that appear on traditional and/or new media outlets. As earlier reported in SHOOT, the JPC, SAG and AFTRA have invited nine consultants from industry and academia to jointly explore different compensation models in light of the advent of new outlets such as mobile phones, PDAs, VOD and gaming. Additional time would likely be needed to complete the study, and for the actors and ad industry negotiators to evaluate the findings and negotiate a new contract.
The two sides’ request for proposal for the joint study states: “SAG, AFTRA and the JPC realize that any study must be comprehensive and take into consideration the myriad of interests of all the parties–performers and their unions on one hand and advertisers and their partners [advertising agencies–production companies, talent payroll services, casting directors and cost consultants]–on the other hand.”
The call for the development of new compensation models for consideration is generally regarded as a positive step towards hopefully attaining a new agreement without a strike or work stoppage. The actors’ unions went on strike against the ad industry in 2000. That six-month strike exacerbated the runaway production problem, and had a negative impact on the U.S. economy.
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More