New National Commercial Agreement Ratified by All Parties
August 26th, 2014 | ACA Team,
By ACA Staff
We are pleased to announce that the new National Commercial Agreement (NCA) reached between ACTRA and ACA/ICA has now been ratified by all parties, takes force immediately, and runs until expiry on June 30, 2017. We believe that the changes in this new agreement offer many improvements for advertisers. Here are the highlights:
Use of ‘Real People’ – Recognizing the rapidly changing communication landscape, we have expanded the use of ‘persons appearing as themselves’. These wider options will be invaluable for advertisers’ man-on-the-street, hidden camera or testimonial commercials and apply in both TV and New Media. As well, these individuals no longer have to be permitted and paid through the union.
New Media – Our negotiations focused on urging the union to understand the advertisers’ need for cross-platform integrated communications. Therefore we have equalized session payments to performers regardless of medium, and chosen to focus on maintaining reduced residual fees for New Media. We have also agreed to enter into a residual-fee study over the course of this new contract.
TV Commercials Moved to Internet – We have reduced the cost of moving TV commercials to the internet and made exercising that option more flexible.
Use on Advertiser Websites – The advertiser may use its commercial on one website that it owns or controls at no additional cost and without size or notice restrictions.
Short Life – A 31-day short life option at a much reduced residual rate is now available to advertisers who wish to place their commercial on multiple websites. This is a 40% decrease from our previous contract.
As well, there is a two-percent rate increase each year of the three-year agreement, in line with inflation and other recent settlements in the private sector. This annual increase, however, does not apply to new media residuals which will remain constant throughout the life of the agreement.
ACA members with questions about this deal may contact: Ron Lund, President & CEO or Bob Reaume, Vice-President, Policy & Research.
