Studios, actors' union reach tentative deal

With Hollywood strikes over, TV networks race to salvage their season

Hollywood studios and the union representing some 160,000 actors reached an agreement to end the 118-day strike that's shut down TV and film production. The SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Committee approved the tentative deal in a unanimous vote, according to a statement from the union on Wednesday.

The union negotiated a contract worth over $1 billion that includes unprecedented restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence to recreate an actor's likeness, as well as the first-ever performance-based bonuses paid by streaming services.

With previously striking writers already back on the job for more than a month, the settlement with actors means production of scripted TV shows and movies can resume soon, helping studios to salvage the season that was supposed to start two months ago.

New and returning dramas and comedies typically debut on broadcast and cable in September and run until May. But the strikes, begun by writers six months ago and actors in July, largely prevented studios from creating new programmes.