TV and film writer earnings fell $603 million last year, or about 32%, as the end of “Peak TV” coincided with a 148-day strike by the Writers of Guild of America. Writer earnings, reported for dues purposes, dropped to $1.29 billion in 2023.
Adjusted for inflation, that is the lowest level since the writers strike in 2007-08. Employment also fell by 19.5%, to 5,501 working writers, the lowest number since 2014.
In the first “double strike” since 1960, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA shut down most scripted production for half the year, seeking higher wages and protection from artificial intelligence. At the same time, the TV business shrank 14%, from 600 shows in 2022 to 516 in 2023. The Writers Guild of America West releases employment data as part of its annual report, which was sent to members on Friday.
In the report, the union said the steep declines reflected “both the industry contraction and the companies’ refusal to negotiate a fair deal, resulting in a five-month strike that ended once the companies agreed to address issues across the membership.” “In this turbulent period, writers in all fields reported declines in employment and earnings,” the union said. Following the previous strike, which lasted 100 days, the guild reported a 15% decline in overall earnings for 2008.
The dramatic 32% drop for 2023 will likely be revised next year to show a somewhat smaller decline, owing to a lag in dues reporting. The report also stated that writer employment reached a.