LOS ANGELES — A breakthrough in contract talks has been reached between Hollywood studios and striking writers and could lead to a tentative deal as early as this week, a person close to the ongoing negotiations said Saturday.
The two sides breached the gap Friday on the thorniest issues, those concerning compensation for projects distributed via the Internet, said the person, who requested anonymity.
A second person familiar with the talks, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said that significant progress had been made and a deal to end the three-month strike might be announced within a week.
The people did not provide specific details on the possible agreement. Major points of contention include how much and when writers are paid for projects delivered online.
The studios have insisted that programs be streamed online for a certain period, deemed promotional, during which writers would forgo residuals. When payment kicked in, the companies sought to limit it to a $1,200 fee. The guild wanted a percentage of a distributor’s revenue.
The Writers Guild of America did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the trade group representing the studios, declined comment, citing a news blackout agreed to by both sides during the talks.
Guild leaders have said they are fighting for a piece of the future, reflecting the widespread belief that Internet-delivered entertainment fare would inevitably claim an increasing and perhaps even dominant market share.
The fate of the Feb. 24 Academy Awards has remained in question, with the guild declining to grant its blessing.
