New NABET Agreement with ABC Covers ESPN 'Time-Buy' Broadcasts on ABC Network

New NABET Agreement with ABC Covers ESPN 'Time-Buy' Broadcasts on ABC Network

WASHINGTON, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- NABET-CWA and ABC have entered into an agreement that gives the Union jurisdiction over most ESPN sports presentations when they are broadcast over the ABC Television Network. These broadcasts, called "time-buys," are an increasing trend in the relationship between the television network and the cable TV giant.

ESPN has become a frequent purchaser of time on ABC, and many ESPN- produced events, such as NBA, WNBA, college basketball, horseracing, and auto racing, are aired on the network as time-buys. The agreement would cover time- buy presentations for these and other sports-event programs. Until the agreement, these broadcasts were produced without the assignment of a NABET- CWA-represented technical crew.

The agreement also covers programs associated with the time-buy broadcasts, such as pre- or post-game shows, when such programs are produced to be broadcast on ABC along with the time-buys. An example of such a program is the NBA pre-show that has aired throughout the current basketball season from Disney Times Square Studios in New York City. Under the terms of the new agreement, those programs would be produced utilizing a technical crew represented by NABET-CWA.

"We believe that this is a significant agreement which should bring a significant amount of work for our members at ABC," said NABET-CWA President John S. Clark, one of the architects of the arrangement. Clark added that the agreement marked a step forward in the formerly strained relationship between the Union and ABC.

The parties have been working on the agreement since last December, however, seeds for the agreement were sown as early as last summer in off-the- record talks between the parties. On the Union's side, a subcommittee consisting of Clark; Local 16 Vice President and NABET-CWA Sector Vice President Jim Joyce, Local 16 President Gene Maxwell, and Local 31 President Mark Peach were involved in the direct discussions with the company.

ABC has reached similar agreements with AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America.

The agreement applies to most ESPN time-buy events aired on ABC commencing on July 11, 2005, and runs until March 31, 2011, unless renewed by the parties by mutual agreement.

Source: National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-CWA

CONTACT: Jeff Miller or Candice Johnson, Communications,
+1-202-434-1168, both of Communications Workers of America

Web site: http://www.cwa-union.org/

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