Payment woes: Will TV industry alter 90-day credit system?
Alot of behind-the-scenes changes in the Indian TV industry are in store, owing to the Covid-19 crisis. But will there be a reduction in the current 90-day credit period of payments in the interest of the fraternity?
Two suicide cases and the ensuing revelations around the financial stress faced by TV artistes led the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to urge producers to “ensure that all payments due to such persons up to March 2020 are cleared at the earliest”. This also comes after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) proposed that outstanding dues should be cleared by producers before shooting commences, and should be made within 30 days of the shoot, whenever they resume.
TV artistes and technicians have for long been vocal about the downside of being paid 90 days after the first telecast of a show. Actor Arjun Bijlani reveals, “A lot of times once shows are over, some of the producers don’t pay actors and technicians or harass them for the last two cheques. One has to keep following up even though it’s our hard-earned money. If things have to change, they have to change from the top.”
It is a circle, agrees actor-producer JD Majethia. “Every person will have to understand that if they want their business to work, they will have to put in some money in the economy themselves,” he adds. And as for defaulters, Majethia, who is also the chairman of the TV wing of the Indian Film and TV Producers Council, says, “Those facing such (payment) issues can write to the Cine And TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) which can forward the grievances to us. We can take it up with concerned producers so that they clear the payments.”
Actor Rubina Dilaik feels it is necessary for actors to have some form of security amid uncertainty. “Around 80% of those working in showbiz are from different parts of India. They don’t have a regular source of income to survive in times of such cut-throat competition,” she adds.
However, actor Aishwarya Sakhuja believes producers are becoming a bit more flexible, adding, “If you have a contract and you want to put a clause (for earlier payments), producers are ready to listen.”