As of this week, the WGA Writers Strike has begun, and we might be here for a while.
The guild arguments, if you want to sum it succinctly, are meant to address changes that have come to the film and television industry in the wake of streaming. Writers are no longer making much in the way of royalties now that streaming services have largely replaced reruns.
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Writers have also alleged that studios are trying to turn them into gig workers, akin to Uber drivers, and that the advent of “mini rooms,” which are writers rooms with fewer screenwriters that run for a shorter period of time, have been used as a way around fairly compensating people for their work.
Adam Conover, a writer, comedian, WGA member and host of the comedy show “Adam Ruins Everything,” recently appeared on CNN (WBD) to give an interview with anchor Sara Sidner, who asked him a question that seemingly reflected the point of view of the studios.
“Times are changing, we are not making as much money as we once did….what do you say to that?”
In response, Conover called out Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, whose reign over the company has been widely criticized, and who now oversees CNN.
“David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of the network I’m talking to you on right now, was paid $250 million last year, a quarter of a billion dollars,” Conover said.
That’s about the same level as what 10,000 writers are asking him to pay all of us collectively, alright. So I would say if you’re being paid $250 million — these companies are making enormous amounts of money. Their profits are going up. It’s ridiculous for them to plead poverty.”
Conover also criticized Netflix (NFLX) co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who made $50.3 million in 2022, a 32% increase from the year before.
“When the writers who are making their shows, some of them are not able to pay their rent or mortgages — I know writers who have to go on assistance,” he said. “If you look at these companies, they’re making more money than ever. The people who make the shows for them are making less.”
In response, Sidner thanked Conover, noting ““Thank you so much for coming on because you ruin everything. You may have just ruined my career, but I don’t mind.”
