Directors' Alliance formed

The Directors' Alliance has been formed by BECTU, DGGB and DPRS.

The Directors' Alliance builds on the successful campaign carried out by the Directors' Rights Campaign.

The Campaign resulted in the rights agreement with major UK broadcasters and independent producers recognising intellectual rights for directors.

The agreement commits broadcasters and independent producers to make annual payments in respect of Directors' rights when programmes are repeated, sold abroad or exploited in new markets. Over the first 5 years of the agreement a total of £6 million will be made available for these payments.

The Directors' Rights Campaign has now been replaced by the Directors' Alliance, involving BECTU, DGGB (Directors Guild of Great Britain) and DPRS (Directors and Producers Rights Society).

Representatives of Alliance members will meet together regularly to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Alliance members will be taking part in the Joint Industry Directors Forum, set up under rights agreement, with broadcasters and independent producers.

Pay, contracts and professional status are early items on the Forum's agenda. The employers side of the Forum consists of BBC, ITV Network (comprising Carlton and Granada), Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky, S4C, PACT and TAC.

Members of the Alliance have also agreed that any future changes to the directors' rights agreement will be jointly negotiated.