While pay channels have depended on repeat telecasts for about 3 months during lockdown, the anchors and actors didn’t get any money for their performance. In many of the western countries, they get royalty and every rerun or repeat telecast will fetch them an additional payment. Now the industry is thinking of such an idea on change of agreements.
Television industry has been one of the worst-hit sectors due to the pandemic followed by the subsequent lockdown. Now, when the shoots have finally resumed after a hiatus of four long months amid all SOPs and safety measures laid down by the government, many celebrities are working with a sense of fear.
Shailesh Lodha, an Indian actor, comedian, writer, and best known for playing the role of Taarak Mehta in India’s longest-running sitcom serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah talks about challenges faced by the television industry, actors and much more. Adhikari, Lodha sparks a larger debate about royalties. He said, “Why artists are not benefited when reruns or repeat telecasts are happening. In most of the instances, we look at what is happening in the West, but I think it is high time when artists should also get the royalties of the show. There should be some provisions under IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights).”
Though much was not discussed earlier on this topic, now that Mr.Sheilesh Lodha brought it out aptly, it is high time the anchors and actors there has to discuss and demand. In the West, they call it Residuals. The are royalties that are paid to the actors, film or television directors, and others involved in making TV shows and movies in cases of reruns.
Veteran movie actor and singer Gene Autry went to court with the contention that he should get a share of the profits for television’s use of his films. He lost his case. But, one actor who was farsighted enough to anticipate the value of reruns was Audrey Meadows who starred on THE HONEYMOONERS. Her contract included residual payments for reruns which over the years turned out to be a nice chunk of change.
