Ok, allow me to wax on for a moment about the current writers' strike.

On one hand, I totally agree with the writers. They should get a piece of the proceeds from DVD and internet broadcasting, just as they do for what goes over the television signal. In fact, I had no idea that they weren't getting residuals from those mediums.

After working for years at a job in which I'm constantly having to create new things for new technologies... yet my compensation never changes... well, I'm pulling for these guys. Not that it will ever affect my job, but that's ok... if my job doesn't improve, then I know my exit strategy is the right choice to make. =^D

However, understanding how business works... at least from my company's viewpoint... there is no longer an acceptable adjustment to the cost of doing business. Sure, the industry will probably have to start paying writers' residuals on the internet and DVD monies, but they won't absorb any of it. They'll simply pass it on to the consumer.

What will this mean for DVD box set prices? How much higher will they go? Double? I suppose that will depend. DVD producers won't have the option they have employed in battles with the RIAA in which they just exclude popular music for that of the "royalty-free" variety. The writing is the lifeblood of the show.

While it should be compensated, I'm not sure I'm willing to pay too much more for what I consider to be overpriced box sets to begin with.

Then there is the internet... which distributes the shows a couple of different ways. Take The Office for example: NBC.com offers the episodes for free on their website, but you get to sit through the commercials. Now the advertisers pay for that "airtime," but unlike over-air broadcast shows, the writers, actors and crew don't get any of that money. When a show is in reruns, there are royalties tied to those re-airings that everyone gets.

Then, there are shows like Lost (which I don't watch), which are not rerun at all... if you miss it, you can only catch it on the internet. Then the people who show up for work everyday to bring that to you get left out of their royalties while the suits still get their cut.

Now, that's wrong... period. Plain and simple. Perhaps, that is the crux of the problem... how do you pass along the cost to the consumer when they are downloading the episodes for free? Can you get away with inserting even more ads? Interesting problem... for the execs. Either way, the workers should get paid.

I think Jenna Fischer's MySpace blog explains it pretty well (it's also the source of my information above). Apparently the free internet distribution issue is understandably the biggest problem.

Then, there is the iTunes model, where consumers can purchase a commercial free episode/season of their favorite show for downloading to their computer/iPod/whatever. Again, the consumer pays, so it wouldn't be a problem to pass that money on to the consumer.

I totally believe these writers, actors, directors, &c. should get something for their efforts. The world is changing and the industry needs to see that. Even if the consumer, who's oppressed by rampant gasoline, energy and grocery prices, can no longer afford to purchase DVDs or support sponsors of broadcast and internet programming.

Wow... total downer. I support the cause, but I also feel for the consumer who will ultimately pay for this strike in gouged eyes from avoiding reality television.

Somedays, the industry just sucks. No wonder I don't watch much TV anymore.