US TV
Lost executive producer Damon Lindelof has reiterated his support for the WGA strike in an op-ed piece for the New York Times.
"Television is dying," wrote Lindelof. "I should have realised this four years ago when I first got my TiVo box, but denial is always the first stage of grief. I simply couldn’t acknowledge that this wonderful invention heralded the beginning of the end.
"My show, Lost, has been streamed hundreds of millions of times since it was made available on ABC’s Web site. The downloads require the viewer to first watch an advertisement, from which the network obviously generates some income. The writers of the episodes get nothing. We’re also a hit on iTunes (where shows are sold for $1.99 each). Again, we get nothing."
He admitted: "I will probably be dragged through the streets and burned in effigy if fans have to wait another year for Lost to come back," but added: "I am angry because I am accused of being greedy by studios that are being greedy. I am angry because my greed is fair and reasonable: if money is made off of my product through the Internet, then I am entitled to a small piece."
He urged the AMPTP to return to the bargaining table, saying that both sides should "rally around the one thing we still have in common: our mourning for the way things used to be".
"Television is dying," wrote Lindelof. "I should have realised this four years ago when I first got my TiVo box, but denial is always the first stage of grief. I simply couldn’t acknowledge that this wonderful invention heralded the beginning of the end.
"My show, Lost, has been streamed hundreds of millions of times since it was made available on ABC’s Web site. The downloads require the viewer to first watch an advertisement, from which the network obviously generates some income. The writers of the episodes get nothing. We’re also a hit on iTunes (where shows are sold for $1.99 each). Again, we get nothing."
He admitted: "I will probably be dragged through the streets and burned in effigy if fans have to wait another year for Lost to come back," but added: "I am angry because I am accused of being greedy by studios that are being greedy. I am angry because my greed is fair and reasonable: if money is made off of my product through the Internet, then I am entitled to a small piece."
He urged the AMPTP to return to the bargaining table, saying that both sides should "rally around the one thing we still have in common: our mourning for the way things used to be".
More: US TV, WGA Strike 2007
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