Netflix U.K., the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) and the Personal Managers’ Association (PMA) have recently announced a groundbreaking deal that will impact U.K. writers working on Netflix scripted live-action commissioned series. The agreement, effective as of Feb. 1, 2024, marks the first of its kind between a streaming service, the WGGB, and the PMA.
According to the parties involved, the deal focuses on remuneration for U.K. writers and aims to enhance their rights and working conditions. Anne Mensah, vp U.K. content at Netflix, emphasized the importance of local writers to Netflix's success in the U.K. and expressed delight in reaching this agreement.
The WGGB general secretary, Ellie Peers, highlighted the significance of this deal for U.K. writers, noting that it is the first time writers working for a global streamer will have their rights protected under a collective trade union agreement, leading to improved terms and conditions.
The PMA also expressed enthusiasm for the agreement, describing it as a trailblazing deal that moves away from granting rights in perpetuity and introduces a structured approach for ongoing payments to U.K. writers.
Key terms of the Netflix pact have been summarized by the writers' union and are available on their website for members to review. Some of the details outlined include a minimum script fee of £17,000 ($21,700) for a one-off 60-minute show and £15,000 ($19,200) for a series. These fees encompass the right for Netflix to exploit the work globally for six months, in addition to non-theatrical and promotional rights.
