David Viviano and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland

Union’s Chief Economist Examines the State of the Industry

“As far as where we are now, it’s really a combination of economic and strategic factors that are all converging at the same time. The industry is reckoning with the declining value of linear networks while dealing with the aftermath of the streaming wars.”

David Viviano

SAG-AFTRA Chief Economist

The industry slowdown and gradual recovery since the end of the strike has had a significant impact on members. In this episode, podcast host, National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland talks with SAG-AFTRA Chief Economist David Viviano about the reasons behind the shift. The two examine the fallout of the streaming wars and the massive investment in episodic television, which reached unsustainable levels in 2022, and how the strategies of the major studios have shifted.

Viviano leads the union’s Office of Media & Economics, which analyzes the media landscape and its implications on the lives of SAG-AFTRA members, and his work informs the union’s negotiating strategies as well as contract enforcement.

Visit the SAG-AFTRA podcast page at sagaftra.org to hear other podcast episodes. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or TuneIn to listen to your favorite episodes on the go.

The views expressed by the guests are their own and not that of SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply SAG-AFTRA’s endorsement.
 

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