Netflix's Ted Sarandos Blames SAG-AFTRA For Contract Talks Ending

TV & Film

Oct 22

As of October 21, the SAG-AFTRA strike hit the 100-day mark. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos appears to be placing the blame for the stall in contract negotiations squarely on SAG-AFTRA. At the Netflix quarter-three video call this past Wednesday, Sarandos said, “We want nothing more than to resolve this and get everyone back to work,” then continued by defending the AMPTP at large, “That’s true for Netflix. That’s true for every member of the AMPTP.” The streamer CEO discussed in the earnings report that the negotiation process was “ongoing” with SAG-AFTRA, even though the parties have not talked in the last week.

Sarandos stated, “We spent hours and hours with SAG-AFTRA over the last few weeks, and we were actually very optimistic that we were making progress. But then at the very end of our last session together, the guild presented this new demand …a subscriber levy unrelated to viewing or success, and this really broke our momentum unfortunately.” He concluded by saying, “You should know we are incredibly and totally committed to ending this strike. You know, the industry, our communities, in the economy are all hurting. So, we need to get a deal done that respects all sides as soon as we possibly can.”

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SAG-AFTRA maintains they are willing to meet with the studios and streamers anytime; however, they referred to the most recent conversations as “bully tactics.” It is unknown when resolutions will be made between all parties. As of last week, there has not been further communication between SAG-AFTRA and what the Deadline refers to as the “CEO Gang of Four” or the AMPTP.

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