WGA, AMPTP resume talks

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- The striking Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers resumed talks Tuesday following a four-day break.

The first round of negotiations since the strike began Nov. 5 were halted last Thursday when the AMPTP delivered its New Economic Partnership proposal to the WGA and the guild asked for time to consider it.

The WGA rejected the package shortly after receiving it, however, and guild leaders presented a counter-offer focusing on new media issues at Tuesday's session.

The WGA plan suggested "tiered" compensation -- or payment based on how many times a show is viewed -- for Web streaming of TV dramas in addition to the set yearly $250 residual the AMPTP offered last week, Variety reported.

The two sides are still nearly $120 million apart on economic terms, the trade newspaper added.