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The Star Section: Entertainment Ad Value: RM 28,283 7-Sep-2021 Size : 562cm2 PR Value: RM 84,849

Hefty payday Hefty payday

Streaming boom keeps TV salaries high for stars like Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Winslet, Robert Downey Jr and more.

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER and JOE OTTERSON Quick look at salaries of other stars THE streaming boom has radically changed TV compensation, with no Angela Bassett (9-7-7) sign that demand - or salaries - US$450,000/episode wUl be fading anytime soon for top Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just small-screen talent. Like That...) Newer streaming services are US$650l000-US$750J000/episode still ramping up their TV offerings as companies make a bid for Winona Ryder (Stranger Things) eyeballs around the globe, and US$350,000-US$400,000/episode established streamers are doing Henry Cavill (The Witcher) their best to remain competitive US$400,000/episode with them and traditional TV counterparts. (Dr Death) That is leading to some hefty US$575,000/episode upfront paydays for some of the Steve Martin (Only Murders In The biggest, A-list feature stars making Building) US$600f000/episode their way to TV, Chris Pratt (Terminal List) The last time Variety wrote about (From left) , Parker and Davis are paid between US$650,000 and US$750,000 (RM2.69mil and US$i-4mil/episode bulging TV salaries, it referenced RM3.1mil) per episode of the reboot, And Just Like That... — Handout the Rowing club". Now that number is shifting closer to US$2mil (RM8.4mil) hit in syndication are mostly a third party analytics firms that are The/re paying lucrative fees for petitive in order to get talent, At the top of that list, Robert thing of the past. finding ways to measure demand this massive reach, says another because they don't have a lot to Downey Jr is rumoured to have Given the vast TV options - for a show. agent, who expects Netflix to soon show for the power of broadcast made at least that - if not more - and lack of transparency about That may be how Jack Pytm star follow suit. "But the number of anymore,“ one rep says. for the Vietnam War thriller The viewership for streaming shows - was able to score buckets they're dipping into is pret­ There also continues to be an Sympathizer, for HBO. Chris Pratt is it's getting harder to define a hit what's believed to be a tremendous ty incredible." issue of the ’Laves" and "have- said to have pulled US$1,4mil these days in any case. renegotiation for his Amazon Hence the need to pay big epi­ nots”. With so much of the talent (RM5.8mil) for his Amazon Prime “Back end doesn't mean show. sodic dollars for A-listers who star budget focused on the top of the series The Terminal List. anything anymore in television, Complicating deals in the in a 10-ep isode series. call sheet, those actors further And the hunger at the streamers unless you're Dick Wolf or some streaming age is that when you sell While the talk a few years ago down the list must contend with for A-list talent only gets more me^a-producer who is doing a show to a streamer, you're not was of a USSlmil club, that's rare diminishing episodic paydays. vociferous when another star has a network procedurals," says one only giving up off-netwark and reserved for luring top talent ^e/re paying the top one, huge hit - witness Kate Winslet talent agent. syndication riches (since those who haven't done TV. maybe two or three names in the and Mare OfE asttown, the kind of *'Anything you get in terms of shows live on those platforms for a But salaries remain competitive, sheet, and everybody else sort of is show every outlet is anxious to back-end compensation at this lengthy period of time, if not in with a US$600,000 to US$750,000 scraping by“ an agent says. have. "You're seeing a lot of point is just gravy." perpetuity), but missing out on (RM2.5mil-RM3.lmil) range being With the streamer boom, "we're pressure at Apple, Amazon, Hulu, In the age of streaming, cash is international dollars, since an the standard for stars like Kate in a little bit of a bubble right to cast these major names and mostly all upfront, and although outlet like Netflix or Amazon Prime Winslet (Mare Of Easttown) and now**, says an agent, pointing to their shows, and for that they're deals may include a back-end Video is usually looking for global , Michelle Pfeifier and the appetite of Netflix, Amazon, willing to spend a ton of money” element, "it's not the way it used to rights. Gillian Anderson in The First Lacfy. Disney, HBO Max and others. says one rep. be, where you could get really rich Insiders say production compa­ Even broadcast isn't immune to While one agent wonders if “It all depends on how much lev­ off it”, the agent says. nies like Lucasfilm and Marvel are the trend; NBC is paying Ted newer entrants like Paramount erage you have and how badly Although it's tough to gauge the adding contract wording that Danson US$400,000 per Plus and Peacock will continue to they need you." success of a show in the streaming encompasses series, an option for a episode for Mr Mayor, knowing be major buyers, KI don't see sala­ One casualty of the changing TV age without ratings benchmarks, feature film that might go theatri­ what a bankable TV superstar he ries diminishing at this point," the ecosystem: those tremendous there are other ways to do so: cal, and rights to include that is, agent says. "I'm still pretty dam paydays that came from having a awards, social buzz, and plenty of character in another franchise. 'They definitely need to be com­ bullish on that." - Reuters