Strike could leave Hollywood speechless

Updated 12.42 Fri Nov 02 2007

Keywords: movies, US, television

Americans could soon be starved of their favourite shows, with TV and screen writers reportedly set to strike for the first time in 20 years.

The Writers Guild of America's three-year contract, covering 12,000 movie and TV writers, expired early on Thursday without an agreement being reached with producers on a renewal.

A lengthy strike would impact television programming and movie production, with shows like Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives grinding to a halt

Union leaders won approval two weeks ago from members to call a strike if deemed necessary once the contract expired.

Writers want more money for DVD sales and internet downloads, a move which has been fiercely resisted by the studios.

A lengthy strike would impact television programming and movie production, with shows like Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives grinding to a halt - although Hollywood studios have been stockpiling scripts in the event of a stoppage.

The producers alliance said in a statement it was not surprised by the WGA announcement.

"We are ready to meet and are prepared to close this contract this weekend," it said.

The last major film and television strike was a WGA walkout in 1988 that lasted 22 weeks, and cost the industry an estimated $500 million.