Television and film directors have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the major media conglomerates, including new language and payment formulas covering digital media.... The DGA agreement could serve as a template for a new writers' contract and for one with the Screen Actors Guild of America. The actors union's agreement with the studios and networks expires in June.

Gil Cates, chairman of the DGA's negotiating committee, said in a statement that "two words describe this agreement - groundbreaking and substantial. There are no rollbacks of any kind."

The DGA agreement reportedly includes increases in wages and residual payments, establishes guild jurisdiction over programs created for the Internet and sets a payment formulas for paid Internet downloads and streaming of original programming online.

Digital media has been the main stumbling block in negotiations between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers - which represents such major media companies as Disney, CBS and NBC-Universal - and the writers' union.
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