“Daily Show” and “Colbert Report” Ink New WGA Contracts for Writers

Hello Doggie, Inc., the production company behind cable hits “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Stephen Colbert Report,” has agreed to an improved residuals formula for its writers, according to the WGA East. In a press release announcing the renegotiated collective bargaining agreements covering the shows, the WGAE estimated that residuals payments for its members will increase approximately 20% in 2012, despite a reduction in the number of replays which began in September 2011.

“It makes a real difference when Guild members are actively engaged in negotiations – and when the employer recognizes how integral writing is to the shows’ success,” said WGAE Executive Director Lowell Peterson, chief negotiator for the union.

The new agreements were ratified by the shows’ WGAE member employees over the last two days. Hello Doggie had already implemented improvements that were part of the industry-wide Minimum Basic Agreement negotiated by the WGA East and its WGA West counterpart earlier this year. The 2012-2015 MBA includes increases to minimum compensation and increased contributions to the guild’s pension plan.