Effect of the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike on television

The 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike was a labor conflict that affected a large number of television shows that were due to be broadcast in the United States during the 2007-08 television season. Negotiators for the striking writers reached a tentative agreement on February 8, 2008, and the boards of both guilds unanimously approved the deal on February 10, 2008.cite news
first = Littleton
last = Cynthia
coauthors = Dave McNary
url = http://www.variety.com/VR1117980626.html
title = Showrunners back to work Monday
publisher = Variety
date=2008-02-10
accessdate = 2008-02-11] Striking writers voted on February 12, 2008, to end the strike immediately,cite news
first = Andreeva
last = Nellie
coauthors =
url = http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1e0e186c138b9329c9ddb5534c32cc79
title = Vote to end strike set for Tuesday
publisher = The Hollywood Reporter
date=2008-02-11
accessdate = 2008-02-11] and on February 26, the WGA announced that the contract had been ratified with a 93.6% approval among WGA members. [cite news
url = http://www.wga.org/subpage_member.aspx?id=2781
title = Letter from the Presidents
publisher = WGA
date=2008-02-26
accessdate = 2008-02-26]

Effect on shows

hows with increased number of episodes

Some shows, especially unscripted or reality shows, benefitted from the strike by providing the networks with new material.

hows with writing completed before strike

hows delayed or interrupted by the strike

Some shows ran out of episodes, but caught up to their ordered amount after the strike. Some other shows, such as talk shows, were interrupted, but made arrangements to return to screens early.

hows cancelled during strike

Shows cancelled during the strike may have been under threat of cancellation anyway, some season may have been shortened and some may have been cancelled when sooner than otherwise because of the financial damage of the strike. Several television shows, including "Journeyman", "K-Ville", "Big Shots", and "Cavemen", were all "quietly" cancelled in part, due to the writer's strike in addition to the perpetual low ratings. [cite web
url=http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20080211/d_strikelist11.art.htm
title=When do our shows come back?
publisher=USA Today
date=2008-02-11]

* 1988 Writers Guild of America strike
* 1960 Writers Guild of America strike
* Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers
* Reaction by actors to the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike
* Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE)
* Writers Guild of America, west (WGAW)

References