WGA

With only a month left before the launch of Season Three of what is probably our consensus favorite show around here, Battlestar Galactica, Sci-Fi.com has launched a series of “webisodes” — internet-only episodes with brand-new content.

Obviously, Battlestar isn’t the first TV show to do this, but the webisodes were actually delayed for a month or so because of controversy over compensation. It’s the latest variation of the “new media meets old contracts” meta-issue we’ve seen played out over and over again.

In this case, the legal issue can be boiled down to this: what is a “webisode” anyways? Is it strictly promotional? Or is it brand-new content for a brand-new medium?

In Saturday’s “The Daily Loper”, I linked to a Los Angeles Times about the Hollywood guilds and their clamor for better treatment when it comes to download royalties. Make no mistake about it — the guilds (SAG, DGA, WGA, etc) might have chosen to play nice when it came to DVD royalties, but it wasn’t due to lack of interest. They were saving their energy for the real battle: downloadable media.

The LAT and Hollywood Reporter have made note of this brewing battle: the first target in the guilds’ sights is ABC. Which makes sense considering the popularity of Lost and Desperate Housewives.

Right now, Hollywood is in a bit of disarray (note to studios: never let them see you in disarray). Some studios treat downloads similarly to television; others are taking the “same as DVD approach”. While both treatments will ultimately come under scrutiny, it is those studios who use the so-called home video royalty calculation who will be on the front lines. Reason?

What is a “Webisode” Anyways?

The Battle Royale: Download Royalties