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The US writers' strike that has put television and film production on hold for more than three months has officially ended.
Writers Guild of America members voted nearly unanimously to halt the action after achieving a deal to give them "a foothold in the digital age".
The result - with nearly 3,500 for and 283 against the agreement - was announced yesterday evening Pacific Time, during the early hours of today GMT.
WGA West president Patric Verrone gave a press conference in Los Angeles to confirm the agreement.
"Our membership has voted and writers can go back to work," he announced. "This was not a strike we wanted but one we had to conduct in order to win jurisdiction and establish appropriate residuals for writing in new media and on the internet.
"Those advances now give us a foothold in the digital age. Rather than being shut out of the future of content creation and delivery, writers will lead the way as TV migrates to the internet and platforms for new media are developed."
Michael Winship, who leads WGA East, added: "The success of this strike is a significant achievement not only for ourselves but the entire creative community, now and in the future.
"The commitment and solidarity of our members made it happen and have been an inspiration not only to us but the entire organised labour movement. We will build on that energy and unity to make our two unions stronger than ever."
The Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation has estimated the action cost $733m in lost production spending and another $1.3bn indirectly.
The three-year deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers will now be formally ratified by WGA members in a postal vote.
