Regarding Strike.. pg 2

The ongoing dispute between the broadcasters and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) could hit the revenues of TV channels.

Business Standard has reported that an additional demand of Rs 12.3 lakh per shift to the 35,000 workers of the Mumbai-based television industry or Rs 35.50 per worker (per shift) has put the weekly advertising revenue of Rs 35-40 crore generated by the 11-odd general entertainment channels under pressure.

If the pay is raised, its 35,000 members will resume work immediately, according to claims made by FWICE. There are several other related demands such as a timebound payment of the shift wage, restricting shifts to 8 hours rather than the current 10-12 hours among others, says a senior FWICE executive.

The strike, that has been in effect from 9th November in Mumbai, has stopped the shooting and editing work of about 60 shows and serials of a dozen entertainment channels, forcing them to re-run old shows.

According to TV stats, viewership ratings have witnessed a 55 per cent drop in prime-time programming due to the excessive amount of repeated and re-run shows.

In the UK, Sony TV was the first Indian broadcaster to begin screening re-run shows. ZEE TV will be next in the next week or so. STAR Plus isn't affected as yet as the channel is six weeks behind India's transmission of soaps. NDTV Imagine and 9X UK feeds are unlikely to be effected at this stage.

Related links:
Sony TV responds to India producers strike
Indian TV strike to halt daily soaps in UK

Indiantelevision.com Team

(18 November 2008 10:30 pm)

"The labour commissioner had sent a notice to the workers and the four producers associations to meet at 3 pm tomorrow," says a representative of Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE).

However, the chairperson of the producers core committee Mukesh Bhatt said, "We have not been informed about the meeting, nor did we get any such notice."

He said that the producers' association and workers federation will sit for a meeting on 20 November.

Certain TV broadcasting CEOs and TV producers are slated to meet tomorrow morning before the hearing.

What's complicating the matter, it is alleged, is that the FWICE has done some number crunching which has resulted in a figure of Rs 5 billion coming up as dues owed by producers to workers as arrears. Producers, say sources, have offered a 10-12 per cent hike in wages, but the FWICE is adamant in sticking to its 15 per cent increment demand.

Broadcasters in the meanwhile are reported to be under pressure to start airing fresh programming with the Advertising Agencies Association of India 10-day repeat-programming time limit drawing to a close on 19 November.

The Hindi GEC genre attracts close to Rs 24 billion in advertising annually and the segment has seen the launch of at least four new channels in the past 18 months.