Key Terms for Development Season Deals
As we head into network development season, the Guild has prepared information on key pilot deal terms for Guild members and their representatives for reference when making deals.
Pilot Compensation Terms
Almost 1,000 Guild members provided information about pilot deals in the Guild’s 2018 survey. Adjusting that information to reflect the annual minimum increases in the MBA, the tables below provide key compensation terms, including pilot script fees, pilot producing fees, episodic fees in the event the pilot is picked up to series, and series sales bonus terms, for all half-hour and one-hour pilot deals.
| Half-Hour Pilots |
|
Median |
Maximum Reported |
| Pilot Script |
$ 105,000 |
$ 525,250 |
| Pilot Producing Fee |
$ 34,250 |
$ 84,000 |
| Episodic Fee |
$ 31,500 |
$ 81,500 |
| Series Sale Bonus |
$ 26,250 |
$ 68,250 |
| One-Hour Pilots |
|
Median |
Maximum Reported |
| Pilot Script |
$ 157,500 |
$ 709,250 |
| Pilot Producing Fee |
$ 39,500 |
$ 105,000 |
| Episodic Fee |
$ 36,750 |
$ 105,000 |
| Series Sale Bonus |
$ 26,250 |
$ 63,000 |
Broadcast Network Pilots
Writers making broadcast network pilot deals should be aware that the medians for pilot scripts and producing fees are higher than those reported for all markets.
| Broadcast Network Medians |
|
Half-Hour Pilots |
One-Hour Pilots |
| Pilot Script |
$ 157,500 |
$ 202,250 |
| Pilot Producing Fee |
$ 47,250 |
$ 42,000 |
| Episodic Fee |
$ 42,000 |
$ 42,000 |
| Series Sale Bonus |
$ 26,250 |
$ 26,250 |
When all agencies agree to provide the Guild with member contracts and data, as Verve and agencies signed to the Code of Conduct have done, we will be able to offer even more robust and complete information on development deal terms to members on an annual basis.
Need Help? Contact Us!
The Guild is here if you need help negotiating a deal or reviewing a contract. Contact WGAE General Counsel, Ann Burdick, at aburdick@wgaeast.org.
Don’t forget to submit your contracts.
