The New Season: Industry execs: We want to avoid strike, but have a Plan B

Two network executives said they hoped upcoming contract negotiations with the major talent guilds will be reached soon, but are prepared to air other programs if a strike cannot be averted.

One of the chief stumbling blocks with the Writers Guild of America, whose three-year contract expires Oct. 31, is compensation for digital content distributed over the Internet, cellphones or other technology devices.

Marc Graboff, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, and Bruce Rosenblum, president of the Warner Bros. Television Group, said labor deals must reflect the radical changes brought on by the digital revolution and should not handcuff studios as they respond to still emerging consumer preferences.

"We need to know what the pie is before we can figure out how to divvy it up,” Graboff said during a panel discussion at the annual summer gathering of television writers and critics held at the Beverly Hilton.

Both executives fielded questions from reporters but declined to provide details about specific preparations being made in the event of a strike. In addition to the Writers Guild, deals must also be struck with the screen actors' and directors' guilds whose contracts expire next summer.

Writers Guild representatives were invited but did not attend the half-hour session. The guild, however, is expected to hold its own panel about the negotiations before the end of the three-week conference.

-- Martin Miller