Three Hollywood labour unions have inked new contracts that will compensate actors, writers and directors and others involved in the ABC drama Lost for the broadcast of snippets of the show on cellphones.
The deals guarantee union health and pension benefits and minimum payments, and could be a blueprint for similar agreements involving other TV content for the growing cellphone entertainment market.
The contract is a ”crucial first step into a new frontier of production and content distribution”, said Alan Rosenberg, president of the Screen Actors Guild.
The Writers Guild of America and the Directors Guild of America also were part of the new labour pact.
The separate agreements expire in 2007 and 2008.
Touchstone announced plans last year to develop the Lost Video Diaries for Verizon Wireless cellphone customers.
The unions had feared Touchstone would not provide union benefits for those working on the cellphone episodes, which tell brief stories inspired by the popular TV show. – Sapa-AP