Guilds seek primetime quota for indies

GUILDS SEEK PRIMETIME QUOTA FOR INDIES
[SOURCE: Hollywood Reporter, AUTHOR: Brooks Boliek]
The entertainment guilds are urging the FCC to require the major networks to set aside a quarter of their primetime schedule for independent programming in order to offset growing consolidation of the programming marketplace. In a joint filing late Monday, SAG, DGA, Producers Guild of America, AFTRA, WGA West and East and the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers and Directors argued that one of the FCC's own studies showed that the consolidated media landscape was diminishing the number of independent programs on network TV. That study, "Vertical Integration and the Market for Broadcast and Cable Television Programming" by University of Chicago professor Austan Goolsbee, found that of the network shows in primetime only 18% were from independents and that the networks discriminate against independent programming by favoring their own shows over independent programming, even when the indies had higher ratings, the guilds said.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i5cad4a74d4feae82be813e4d3add66eb