LOS ANGELES (May 1) (Reuters) – Thousands of Hollywood film and television writers will go on strike starting Tuesday, an action that will disrupt television production. How will the Writers Guild of America withdrawal affect viewers’ favorite TV shows and movies?
What shows will feel the first impact of the strike?
Late night talk shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” are expected to instantly go dark and get back on the air. This means that new installments will not be available on traditional networks, nor on streaming services like Hulu and Peacock that make shows available the next day.
The next television series to be deactivated could be daytime soap operas as they are traditionally scripted shortly before they are filmed.
Prime-time comedies and dramas currently on the air should be able to wrap up seasons without a break — their episodes for the coming weeks will already have been written and filmed.
What will happen if the strike continues?
A prolonged strike could delay the start of the fall TV season, when networks debut new scripted shows and new seasons of their hits. Writing for the fall season usually begins in May or June.
What about streaming services?
Netflix (NFLX.O), which has shows worldwide, said it could feed its service with shows produced outside the United States. But its US-based chain will be affected if the strike continues.
HBO Max, which changed its name to Max in late May, is providing programming for its release through its rebranding.
What are the hit safe offers?
News programs will continue as normal because their writers are covered by a different consortium. The same goes for unscripted reality shows like “Big Brother” and “The Bachelor.”
What about movies?
The flow of movies into theaters won’t be affected right away because movies take two to three years to make, and studios have a bunch of movies already written and shot. It would take an extended strike to interrupt the film’s release schedules.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwin) Editing by Kenneth Maxwell
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(tags for translation) RSBI: Workers’ Rights