Roughly 50 television writers will divvy up $350,000 from tvontario, following a settlement in a dispute between the Writers Guild of Canada and the educational broadcaster over profits from tvo shows sold to the international market.

‘This is one of the largest settlements for guild members ever,’ says Maureen Parker, wgc executive director.

The dispute began two years ago when the wgc discovered that tvo had been selling videocassettes of educational programs for non-broadcast use through International Tele-Film. itf is the largest, privately owned non-theatrical film distributor in Canada, servicing educational and business markets.

The wgc alleges that tvo had failed to reclear their own rights to all of the programs prior to listing them in the itf catalogue. The wgc also says the public broadcaster underpaid writers by paying them based on itf’s sales under a public sale provision of the agreement, rather than the educational non-broadcast fees.

The programs, which included kids’ shows and adult-training programs (some dating back to the 1970s) contain titles such as Today’s Special, Write On! and See, Hear! Canada.

Ken Sobol, who wrote some of the shows and brought the discrepancy to the wgc’s attention says, ‘If tvo is going to sell writers’ work, then they should pay their fair share.’

Following the settlement, future itf catalogue entries will be first licensed for educational broadcast use, and tvo has agreed to pay an additional 10% of original fees to allow for non-broadcast educational life-of-tape rights.

tvo will reportedly pay the funds into a trust by Jan. 13, 1999 and the wgc will disburse the money to the writers.

tvo director of communications Ellen T. Cole confirms the settlement and says tvo hopes that this action has ‘strengthened’ its relationship with the wgc.