When members of the solid of a reality TV show sign a contract to seem on a show, they typically accomplish that more for exposure than for pay – namely many cases You don't earn a cent.
Employers are getting away with an apparent violation of basic labor laws by classifying these candidates as independent contractors somewhat than employees. In the eyes of the law, they don't have the identical protections that the majority staff receive in almost every other form of work. equivalent to the liberty to affix trade unions.
This also signifies that the National Labor Relations Board has no jurisdiction over them. This could change soon The government agency filed a grievance against Delirium TV and Kinetic Content, the producers of “Love Is Blind.”
The NLRB Complaint states that reality TV contestants are employees and subsequently have the correct to affix a union. Former Love Is Blind Contestants Renee Poche And Nicholas Thompson had submitted a corresponding application. In addition to not with the ability to join a union, also they are unable to affix a union Couldn't even discuss the terms of their contracts Non-disclosure agreements.
As Sociologist who studies popular culture and workI've been advocating for years that reality TV stars and musicians must be classified as an worker.
Reality TV contestants, including lots of the celebs of those shows, are essentially unpaid interns of the entertainment industry, although it’s their stories, personalities and skills that attract and captivate viewers.
Offering participants meager pay
Today's economy is characterised by precarious employment practices wherein many corporations operate Classify staff as independent contractors. Out of musician To InfluencersPeople work in large jobs where there is no such thing as a guarantee of pay or employment.
“Cupcake Wars“”Love is blind” and other reality TV shows thrive thanks to a simple business model: They're cheap to produce. One reason for this is that most participants are independent contractors work without spending a dime or earn a meager salary under the guise of pursuing their dreams or gaining notoriety.
This rule could change following the brand new NLRB grievance. The NLRB was created through the presidential election Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal as an independent government agency tasked with protecting and regulating staff' rights.
One of its most important tasks is to control trade unions and determine staff' rights. Right to strike. It determines who can join a union and whether a strike is legal.
Providing a goldmine for networks
To conduct research for my book “Signing: Record contracts, musicians and power in society“I interviewed contestants on The Voice.
Former participants repeatedly told me that television exposure did little to assist their careers.
Before joining the show, most of the musicians tried to make a living by touring or performing. They interrupt their careers to pursue their dreams.
However, The show's contracts stipulated this that contestants on “The Voice” may not perform, sell their name, image and likeness, or record latest music.
Additionally, viewers might not be aware of how profitable these reality shows are.
Take “House hunter.” The show follows a potential home buyer as he tours three homes. The homebuyers featured in the show noticed this they just earn $500 for her workAnd The episodes last Three to 5 days and around 30 hours of filming time.
The producers of the show Don’t pay the actual estate agents to be there.
The low pay of individuals on reality TV shows corresponds to the low budget for these shows. A former participant wrote that episodes of “House Hunters” costs about $50,000 shoot. In comparison, primetime sitcoms have a budget of as much as $3 million per episode.
Union Organizing on Reality TV
This huge budget gap between reality TV and sitcoms isn't simply attributable to an absence of star actors.
Many scripted television shows are based in Los Angeles, where camera crews, stunt doubles, costume designer, Make-up artists and hairdressers are unionized. But shows like “House Hunters,” that are filmed all around the country, Recruit staff from right-to-work states.
Employees in these locations can’t be required to affix a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment. For these reasons, the unions far less performance in those states than in places traditionally related to show business, equivalent to California and New York.
I believe reality TV could grow to be the following show business labor dispute. If the NLRB forces “Love Is Blind” to treat its stars and other on-screen participants as employees, it may lead to a cascade.
Reality TV production corporations could in the future be required to pay wages to all participants and limit their working hours. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the association called SAG-AFTRAcould begin recruiting these staff as dues-paying members.
But it's not certain that any of it will occur. There are many Hearings, Trials and Appeals in stock before it becomes enforceable. And with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office before the hearing is scheduled to happen, his nominees could change course.
Still, I believe the NLRB's motion shows that reality TV contestants are finally being recognized as employees who should be treated higher by their employers.
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