TV and Digital Gains Drive WGA West Member Earnings to $1.68 Billion

David Robb Labor EditorThe WGA West told its members today that, as production begins to ramp up amid the coronavirus pandemic, writers should not sign liability waivers exempting employers from their responsibility to provide a safe workplace.“Your employer is required by law to provide a safe and healthy workplace both in the [writers] room and on set,” the guild said in its latest communique to members.

Dave McNary Film ReporterLeaders of the Writers Guild of America West have touted the benefits of their campaign to revamp how agencies represent their members.The WGA West board of directors notified their 10,000 members in a message Tuesday evening that a key objective of the agency campaign is timely information from the agencies to assist in enforcement of late pay and free work violations.

One of HGTV’s most popular renovation series, Fixer Upper, is coming back and moving to a brand new network!

. The showed played out for five seasons on HGTV before airing its final episode in April 2018.

Fixer Upper,” he says. "I answered the office phone like you told me never to do.“Well, can I tell you a little secret? I kind of missed it," .

Fixer Upper is coming back to television. The hit renovation and design series will return with new episodes on Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network, which launches in 2021.

Nellie Andreeva Co-Editor-in-Chief, TVOne of the biggest reality series of the past decade is coming back. Chip and Joanna Gaines are reviving their hugely popular HGTV series Fixer Upper for a new season on a new network.The Fixer Upper reboot will air exclusively on Magnolia Network, Discovery’s joint venture with the Gaineses, and will premiere at the network’s launch, currently eyed for early 2021.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterGet ready to decorate with more shiplap in 2021.Joanna and Chip Gaines, the pair of home improvement pros who hosted “Fixer Upper” for five seasons on HGTV until 2018, are reviving the popular series — this time for their new venture, the forthcoming Magnolia Network, which will replace existing cabler DIY Network early next year.

Also Read: HGTV Boss Says No to New 'Fixer Upper': 'What Made the Show Special Was Chip and Jo'In addition to the “Fixer Upper” reboot (Magnolia’s word, not ours), the cable channel announced two new series: an untitled project featuring interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn and “Self Employed” with entrepreneur Jonathan Morris.Here is some info on the two new shows:Self-taught interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn’s untitled project showcases his eclectic yet distinctive style and keen eye for

Jill Goldsmith Co-Business EditorFacebook said users hit 2.7 billion as it beat Wall Street estimates on revenue and earnings in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a highly-public boycott by advertisers.If you didn’t get enough Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook and tech giants yesterday during hours of Congressional testimony, they’re all back today with a rat-a-tat-tat of back to back quarterly earnings that will hopefully give the best indication yet of the state of the digital ad

Joanna Gaines, Gabrielle Union and more moms and dads have released picture books for children.The Fixer Upper star published her first kids’ book, We Are the Gardeners, in March 2019, which she cowrote with her and husband Chip Gaines’ five kids — Drake, Duke, Ella, Emmie and Crew.“We wrote this children’s book together to tell the story of our journey in the garden — a story of trying and failing and trying again and never giving up,” the Kansas native captioned her January 2019 Instagram

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorESPN is moving deeper into the increasingly popular game of talking about big topics in smaller chunks of content.The Walt Disney-owned sports-media giant will today start rolling out “ESPN Stories,” a new series of quick-hit content compilations that its executives believe represent a new way of talking about sports to a generation of fans that love seeing not only great plays and highlights, commentator hot takes, stats and player interviews but humorous

David Robb Labor EditorSixteen candidates are vying for eight open seats on the WGA West’s board of directors. The seven incumbents seeking reelection are Patti Carr, Ashley Gable, Betsy Thomas, David Slack, Patric M.

Isle Of Wight festival‘s iconic 1970 instalment is set to open in London.Wight Spirit, 1968-70 marks the 50th anniversary of the legendary festival (the inaugural year was 1968 but 1970 put it on the map), with pictures from the festival and associated artwork displayed at west London’s Masterpiece Art gallery from Monday (July 27).Sculptures by Guy Portelli and a selection of photographs taken by the late Charles Everest – some of which have never been seen before – will be displayed until

David Robb Labor EditorWGA West members earned a record $1.68 billion under the guild’s film and TV contracts for the fiscal year ended March 31 – up 3.1% from the previous year, according to the guild’s latest annual report (read it here). In total, more than 6,300 writers reported employment in all work areas during the year.Screenwriter earnings dipped 0.7% to $493.1 million, though the guild said that this figure is likely to increase with late reporting.

Dave McNary Film ReporterMichael Franklin, who used to serve as the top executive at the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America West, died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 96.Franklin served at executive director for the WGA West for two decades before becoming the first national executive director of the DGA in 1978.

David Robb Labor EditorMichael Franklin, who served as the top executive officer of both the DGA and the WGA West, died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 96.An attorney, Franklin served as executive director of the WGA West — where he spent two decades — before being was hired by the DGA as its national executive director in 1978.