‘Suits’ Was Streamed For 3 Billion Minutes on Netflix and the Writers Were Collectively Paid $3,000

free ae templates free share ae downlaod free envato market free videohive free stock video free after effects templates

The current inadequate condition of streaming residuals highlights the reasons behind the strikes by SAG and the WGA.

Logging into Netflix without encountering “Suits” has become nearly impossible. The series held a spot in the Top 10 for several weeks and has made a significant resurgence in popular culture, largely due to a new influx of viewers.

Netflix has proven to be a boon for TV shows that initially failed to capture a broad audience during their original run. “Suits,” which aired from 2011 to 2019, is also accessible on Peacock, featuring all nine seasons encompassing 134 episodes.

This accessibility and newfound popularity led to the show being streamed for over three billion minutes within a single week, with the cumulative total far surpassing that since its debut on both streaming platforms. However, the question arises: What compensation do the creators of this show receive for achieving such remarkable streaming success? It would seem reasonable to expect a substantial financial gain when a show contributes to a streaming platform retaining such a substantial viewership.

Yet, in an article for the Los Angeles Times, Ethan Drogin, a writer and producer for “Suits,” delved into the specifics of how residuals are structured for a hit show that experiences a second wave of popularity.

How Much Were the Writers of ‘Suits’ Paid?

Drogin provided a clear breakdown of his earnings, stating, “I earned $259.71 from streaming residuals for the Suits episode I penned, titled ‘Identity Crisis,’ in the last quarter. Collectively, the original team of six Suits writers received less than $3,000 for our 11 episodes from Season 1, streamed across two platforms, by NBCUniversal.”

This signifies that despite the show’s triumphant resurgence, there were no substantial supplementary payments involved. The lion’s share of benefits accrues to the streaming platforms for hosting the show, leaving only a meager portion for the individuals who contributed to its creation.

In contrast, if this were a network show entering syndication, writers would receive predetermined residuals each time their episode was rebroadcast. These residuals generally amount to approximately 50 percent of the original script fee, progressively decreasing with each subsequent rerun until a certain point is reached.

The evident conclusion is that the current production model needs a comprehensive overhaul in order to ensure equitable compensation within the realm of streaming.

“Suits” also serves as a prime illustration of a series where the original writers are granted the opportunity to further develop the narrative. In today’s Hollywood landscape, “mini rooms” are employed to brainstorm and plan out a series. These groups consist of writers responsible for generating episode concepts, refining characters, and guiding story arcs.

Regrettably, writers are often deprived of the chance to stay onboard and nurture storylines that hold promise. When they do stay, the compensation they receive from streaming services like Peacock and Netflix is not commensurate with their contributions.

The core desire of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is simply to secure fair remuneration and residuals for the substantial effort they have invested over the years, which in turn is generating profits for all other stakeholders.

gfxdownload download videohive free free download vfx vfx download ae download share ae free essential graphics premiere pro flower titles aedownload audiojungle free download videohive prisma lens effects download premiere pro free templates