I owe a debt to bringtvback for assembling a convenient list of network and studio addresses, together with a handy list of which CEOs are connected with which shows.
Herewith, the letters:
Mr. Barry Meyer, Chairman
Warner Bros. Entertainment
Dear Mr. Meyer:
I love scripted television. I love compelling, three-dimensional characters, witty dialogue, humor integral to drama, interesting plots, and stories that capture my intelligence and my heart. At this moment, your studio produces my three favorite current shows: the darkly brilliant Supernatural, that under-appreciated gem of mingled brotherly love and horror unexpectedly at the very top of my must-see list; the funny, rollicking, warm-hearted Chuck; and the quirky, utterly charming Pushing Daisies. And I know I’m shortly going to be missing all of them probably for months and possibly forever because of the Writers Guild strike. I’m asking you not to let that happen. I’m asking that you and the other members of the AMPTP return to the bargaining table immediately and negotiate in good faith to reach a reasonable accommodation with the writers.
I understand that internet downloads and streaming video, cable television, home video and DVD, and other technology-based innovations and changes to the traditional television market have created unsettling conditions for the entire industry. Those conditions, however, have not changed the fundamental right of artists to be paid fairly for their work.
Television and the internet are clearly merging, and the “new media” networked marketplace of the future is already here. I still watch most of my television through broadcast and cable, but I’ve also purchased season passes on iTunes to download Supernatural episodes, and I’ve watched streaming video, complete with paid commercials, on network websites. The shows I love the most, including Supernatural, I’ve purchased on DVD. It’s important to me to know that however I watch my shows, the writers and artists who created them are getting fair compensation. Right now, particularly with regard to new media, I don’t believe that’s happening.
For the sake of your audience – viewers like me who watch your shows and video streams and buy your DVDs and downloads – as well as for the health of the industry, I respectfully request that all parties abandon rhetoric and embrace respect and rationality to resolve this dispute. Please return to the bargaining table now and negotiate new media residuals fairly. The longer this impasse continues, the more all of us – studios, networks, artists, viewers, and all the people who rely on the entertainment industry for their livelihood – will suffer and grow bitter. It’s in your power and your interest to end it now. After all, the ultimate success of your business rides on the creativity of the writers, actors, directors and others who make the shows we enjoy and love enough to buy and return to time and again.
CBS
Mr. Leslie Moonves
CBS Entertainment Network
Dear Mr. Moonves:
I love scripted television. I love compelling, three-dimensional characters, witty dialogue, humor integral to drama, interesting plots, and stories that capture my intelligence and my heart. At this moment, your network and its CW subsidiary broadcast three of my favorite current shows: on the CW, the darkly brilliant Supernatural, that under-appreciated gem of mingled brotherly love and horror unexpectedly at the very top of my must-see list; and on CBS itself, the adventurous and creative FBI, math, and family drama Numb3rs; and the intriguing, magnetic Jericho. And I know I’m shortly going to be missing all of them probably for months and possibly forever because of the Writers Guild strike. I’m asking you not to let that happen. I’m asking that you and the other members of the AMPTP return to the bargaining table immediately and negotiate in good faith to reach a reasonable accommodation with the writers.
I understand that internet downloads and streaming video, cable television, home video and DVD, and other technology-based innovations and changes to the traditional television market have created unsettling conditions for the entire industry. Those conditions, however, have not changed the fundamental right of artists to be paid fairly for their work.
Television and the internet are clearly merging, and the “new media” networked marketplace of the future is already here. I still watch most of my television through broadcast and cable, but I’ve also purchased season passes on iTunes to download Supernatural episodes, and I’ve watched streaming video, complete with paid commercials, on network websites. The shows I love the most, including Supernatural, I’ve purchased on DVD. It’s important to me to know that however I watch my shows, the writers and artists who created them are getting fair compensation. Right now, particularly with regard to new media, I don’t believe that’s happening.
For the sake of your audience – viewers like me who watch your shows and video streams and buy your DVDs and downloads – as well as for the health of the industry, I respectfully request that all parties abandon rhetoric and embrace respect and rationality to resolve this dispute. Please return to the bargaining table now and negotiate new media residuals fairly. The longer this impasse continues, the more all of us – studios, networks, artists, viewers, and all the people who rely on the entertainment industry for their livelihood – will suffer and grow bitter. It’s in your power and your interest to end it now. After all, the ultimate success of your business rides on the creativity of the writers, actors, directors and others who make the shows we enjoy and love enough to buy and return to time and again.
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The CW (A little different, because I don't think they're directly at the table ...)
Ms. Dawn Ostroff
President of Entertainment
The CW Network
Dear Ms. Ostroff:
I get a surfeit of reality in reality and refuse to watch “reality” TV, but I love scripted television. I love compelling, three-dimensional characters, witty dialogue, humor integral to drama, interesting plots, and stories that capture my intelligence and my heart. At this very moment, your network broadcasts my favorite current show: the darkly brilliant Supernatural, that under-appreciated gem of mingled brotherly love and horror unexpectedly at the very top of my must-see list. And I know I’m shortly going to be missing it probably for months and possibly forever because of the Writers Guild strike. I’m asking you not to let that happen. I’m asking that you encourage the members of the AMPTP to return to the bargaining table now and negotiate in good faith to reach a reasonable accommodation with the writers.
I understand that internet downloads and streaming video, cable television, home video and DVD, and other technology-based innovations and changes to the traditional television market have created unsettling conditions for the entire industry. Those conditions, however, have not changed the fundamental right of artists to be paid fairly for their work.
Television and the internet are clearly merging, and the “new media” networked marketplace of the future is already here. I still watch most of my television through broadcast and cable, but I’ve also purchased season passes on iTunes to download Supernatural episodes, and I’ve watched streaming video, complete with paid commercials, on network websites, including yours. The shows I love the most, including Supernatural, I’ve purchased on DVD. It’s important to me to know that however I watch my shows, the writers and artists who created them are getting fair compensation. Right now, particularly with regard to new media, I don’t believe that’s happening.
For the sake of your audience – viewers like me who watch your shows and video streams and buy your DVDs and downloads – as well as for the health of the industry, I respectfully request that all parties abandon rhetoric and embrace respect and rationality to resolve this dispute. Please return to the bargaining table now and negotiate new media residuals fairly. The longer this impasse continues, the more all of us – studios, networks, artists, viewers, and all the people who rely on the entertainment industry for their livelihood – will suffer and grow bitter. It’s in your power and your interest to end it now. After all, the ultimate success of your business rides on the creativity of the writers, actors, directors and others who make the shows we enjoy and love enough to buy and return to time and again.
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Disney, ABC, ABC Family
Mr. Robert Iger
The Walt Disney Company
Dear Mr. Iger:
I love scripted television. I love compelling, three-dimensional characters, witty dialogue, humor integral to drama, interesting plots, and stories that capture my intelligence and my heart. At this moment, ABC, part of the Walt Disney family, broadcasts one of my favorite current shows, the quirky, utterly charming Pushing Daisies, while ABC Family produces and airs the unexpectedly delightful family science fiction drama Kyle XY. And I know I’m shortly going to be missing both of them probably for months and possibly forever because of the Writers Guild strike. I’m asking you not to let that happen. I’m asking that you and the other members of the AMPTP return to the bargaining table immediately and negotiate in good faith to reach a reasonable accommodation with the writers.
I understand that internet downloads and streaming video, cable television, home video and DVD, and other technology-based innovations and changes to the traditional television market have created unsettling conditions for the entire industry. Those conditions, however, have not changed the fundamental right of artists to be paid fairly for their work.
Television and the internet are clearly merging, and the “new media” networked marketplace of the future is already here. I still watch most of my television through broadcast and cable, but I’ve also purchased season passes on iTunes to download television episodes, and I’ve watched streaming video, complete with paid commercials, on network websites. The shows I love the most, I’ve purchased on DVD. It’s important to me to know that however I watch my shows, the writers and artists who created them are getting fair compensation. Right now, particularly with regard to new media, I don’t believe that’s happening.
For the sake of your audience – viewers like me who watch your shows and video streams and buy your DVDs and downloads – as well as for the health of the industry, I respectfully request that all parties abandon rhetoric and embrace respect and rationality to resolve this dispute. Please return to the bargaining table now and negotiate new media residuals fairly. The longer this impasse continues, the more all of us – studios, networks, artists, viewers, and all the people who rely on the entertainment industry for their livelihood – will suffer and grow bitter. It’s in your power and your interest to end it now. After all, the ultimate success of your business rides on the creativity of the writers, actors, directors and others who make the shows we enjoy and love enough to buy and return to time and again.
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NBC
Mr. Jeff Zucker
NBC/Universal
30 Rockefeller Plaza
Dear Mr. Zucker:
I love scripted television. I love compelling, three-dimensional characters, witty dialogue, humor integral to drama, interesting plots, and stories that capture my intelligence and my heart. At this moment, your network and its
I understand that internet downloads and streaming video, cable television, home video and DVD, and other technology-based innovations and changes to the traditional television market have created unsettling conditions for the entire industry. Those conditions, however, have not changed the fundamental right of artists to be paid fairly for their work.
Television and the internet are clearly merging, and the “new media” networked marketplace of the future is already here. I still watch most of my television through broadcast and cable, but I’ve also purchased episode downloads on iTunes, and I’ve watched streaming video, complete with paid commercials, on network websites. The shows I love the most, I’ve purchased on DVD. It’s important to me to know that however I watch my shows, the writers and artists who created them are getting fair compensation. Right now, particularly with regard to new media, I don’t believe that’s happening.
For the sake of your audience – viewers like me who watch your shows and video streams and buy your DVDs and downloads – as well as for the health of the industry, I respectfully request that all parties abandon rhetoric and embrace respect and rationality to resolve this dispute. Please return to the bargaining table now and negotiate new media residuals fairly. The longer this impasse continues, the more all of us – studios, networks, artists, viewers, and all the people who rely on the entertainment industry for their livelihood – will suffer and grow bitter. It’s in your power and your interest to end it now. After all, the ultimate success of your business rides on the creativity of the writers, actors, directors and others who make the shows we enjoy and love enough to buy and return to time and again.
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Fox (which gets a trifle nastier blast courtesy of Chernin having said that Fox will benefit from the strike because of reality programming)
Mr. Peter Chernin
Fox Entertainment Group
Dear Mr. Chernin:
I get a surfeit of reality in reality and thus refuse to watch “reality” TV, but I love scripted television. I love compelling, three-dimensional characters, witty dialogue, humor integral to drama, interesting plots, and stories that capture my intelligence and my heart. At this moment, your network broadcasts two shows I definitely enjoy: the amusing, quirky, and interesting Bones, and the woefully inconsistent but still entertaining action romp of 24. And I know I’m shortly going to be missing them probably for months and possibly forever because of the Writers Guild strike. I’m asking you not to let that happen. I’m asking that you and the other members of the AMPTP return to the bargaining table immediately and negotiate in good faith to reach a reasonable accommodation with the writers.
I understand that internet downloads and streaming video, cable television, home video and DVD, and other technology-based innovations and changes to the traditional television market have created unsettling conditions for the entire industry. Those conditions, however, have not changed the fundamental right of artists to be paid fairly for their work.
Television and the internet are clearly merging, and the “new media” networked marketplace of the future is already here. I still watch most of my television through broadcast and cable, but I’ve also purchased episode downloads on iTunes, and I’ve watched streaming video, complete with paid commercials, on network websites, including yours. The shows I love the most, I’ve purchased on DVD. It’s important to me to know that however I watch my shows, the writers and artists who created them are getting fair compensation. Right now, particularly with regard to new media, I don’t believe that’s happening. Accordingly, I’m boycotting “new media” TV until the strike is resolved.
For the sake of your audience – viewers like me who watch your shows and video streams and buy your DVDs and downloads – as well as for the health of the industry, I respectfully request that all parties abandon rhetoric and embrace respect and rationality to resolve this dispute. Please return to the bargaining table now and negotiate new media residuals fairly. The longer this impasse continues, the more all of us – studios, networks, artists, viewers, and all the people who rely on the entertainment industry for their livelihood – will suffer and grow bitter. It’s in your power and your interest to end it now. After all, the ultimate success of your business rides on the creativity of the writers, actors, directors and others who make the shows we enjoy and love enough to buy and return to time and again. “Reality” TV goes only so far, and in my case, that’s nowhere at all.
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