SAG, Hollywood Producers End Contract Talks

LOS ANGELES, May 6 -- Hollywood producers say talks with the Screen Actors Guild have ended, but they are offering to renew negotiations at a future date.

The producers' alliance said in a statement on Tuesday that the guild made unreasonable demands for higher fees from DVD sales and new media, and there was no reason for a third extension of talks at this time. The first rounds of talks lasted 18 days.

Guild President Alan Rosenberg said the decision to halt negotiations is unfortunate and deeply troubling.

On Wednesday, the smaller actors' union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, takes its turn at the bargaining table.

AFTRA said it will impose a news blackout on details of its upcoming discussions, which involve actors on prime-time TV shows such as "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Rules of Engagement," "Cashmere Mafia" and " 'Til Death."

SAG and AFTRA had negotiated together on the theatrical movie and prime-time TV contract with studios for the past 27 years but split in March when AFTRA accused SAG of trying to entice actors in the soap drama "The Bold and the Beautiful" to abandon the federation.

Last week, AFTRA said its voting members had given 93 percent approval to a separate contract deal for the majority of TV shows it represents, including "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and "Entertainment Tonight."

AFTRA accepted terms on new media that amounted to a small, fixed payment for TV programs streamed online for one year, and a small percentage share of the distributors' gross revenue thereafter.

The unions' current prime-time television contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers also expires June 30.