AMPTP, AFTRA reach agreement

LOS ANGELES, May 28 (UPI) -- A group of Hollywood producers said Wednesday it has reached agreement with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists after 17 days of talks.

"Both AMPTP and AFTRA were challenged during these talks to find a way to fairly and sensibly tailor our industry's new media framework to meet the needs of actors," the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said in a statement.

"As a result of compromise and creativity by both parties, we reached an agreement that

makes the new media framework work for all actors," the AMPTP explained. "This agreement is latest of the 310 labor agreements successfully negotiated by AMPTP since its inception in 1982, and the fourth major agreement reached in 2008 alone -- following the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America and AFTRA Network Code agreements. Together, these major labor pacts demonstrate our determination to create economic partnerships with actors, directors, writers and below-the-line workers for the new media age."

The AMPTP said it is looking to resume talks with the Screen Actors Guild and "to building on the foundation laid during our first round of SAG talks and to reaching an agreement that will prevent another harmful and unnecessary strike."