Source - DNA Newspaper
All private channels have decided to blackout fresh episodes of serials
Get ready to cope with the withdrawal effect from your favourite soap. All the privately-run national channels have unanimously decided to blackout fresh episodes of all serials and infotainment programmes from November 10 because of the ongoing rift between workers federation and the producers. A section of the producers too have threatened to go on strike from the same day.
A large section of the producers have already stopped submitting fresh episodes of serials and other programmes after technicians and other workers demanded shiftwise payment. This means a 300% hike in wages, which in turn would escalate production cost of the programmes. To cope with it, the producers have asked for a larger sum from the channels. The cost of every episode, sources say, would have increased by 100% at the least. The channel heads, after a spate of closed-door meetings, have issued an ultimatum to the producers to submit all pending tapes by November 9.
"Some of the producers are not in a position to shoot because they simply cannot afford such low-profit margins. We have had several meetings with the channels and we have tried to convince them that they should pay the producers more. The channels have refused to do so," said Ratan Jain, president of Association of Motion Pictures and Television Programme Producer of India.
"There is no question of giving more money to the producers. It's not possible. We have already told them so," said Nitin Vaidya, COO of ZEE group of channels. The group has already told its producers that they would be "forced not to accept tapes of fresh episodes" if they stick to their demand of more compensationDitto is the stand of all privately-owned national channels across India. According to the channel heads, they are not earning enough revenue from the advertisements to support an increased compensation to the producers.
Albert Almeida, executive vice president and business head of Sony Entertainment Television, said, "In this time of recession, a raise in cost of production will be a problem. We are hoping that the producers and the federation will resolve their issue. If not, we will be forced to repeat shows on our channel. We have to keep in mind our advertisers."
Some of the producers are ready to consider a "slight" increase in workers' salaries. "This has never happened before in the country. The channels not airing fresh episodes will hit the television market like never before. We don't want that. We can afford a slight increase in salaries. Workers too must realise that a 300% hike is an impossibility," said Tony Singh, a leading TV producer.(with inputs from Prithwish Ganguly)
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