CABLE ACTORS GET RAISE IN RESIDUALS.

Byline: GREG HERNANDEZ Staff Writer

The producers of such live-action cable shows as ``The Shield'' and ``Monk'' have reached an agreement with the Screen Actors Guild on a two-year contract that includes a 21 percent increase in residuals, officials said Friday.

The agreement, which came after six months of tough negotiations, covers shows produced specifically for basic cable television and runs through June 30, 2008. The new residuals formula is retroactive to Jan. 1.

''The sole priority in these negotiations was to achieve a residuals increase for the actors who do this work, and we accomplished that,'' SAG President Alan Rosenberg said.

``For many members of Screen Actors Guild, these extra dollars mean the difference between whether or not they pay rent, qualify for health care or earn points toward their pensions.''

Rosenberg called the residuals hike a victory for middle-class actors, since residuals are often a ``lifeline'' for them in addition to more money up front.

He described the negotiations as ``lengthy and difficult'' and said the union worked long and hard to convey to producers just how much is at stake for SAG members.

While basic cable has exploded in popularity over the past 16 years, this marks the first new contract and pay raise since the first one was negotiated with no end date in 1990.

Although the residuals hike was not as high as actors had sought, they will have a chance to renegotiate in two years when the agreement will expire.

``After 16 years of extraordinary growth in the cable TV industry, in which actors helped producers generate billions of dollars in profits, our members deserved a new contract that protects their health and pension plans and puts more money in their pockets to support their families.''

The residuals formula for the first repeat airing of a show increased from 12 to 17 percent of a performer's minimum pay for live action programs made directly for basic cable.

The bottom end increased from 1 percent to 1.5 percent of the minimum for the 13th rerun and subsequent airings thereafter, a figure that is particularly important to actors.

In addition, the second, third and fourth reruns will be paid in one lump sum when the show first airs, resulting in a larger check for actors. This results in accelerated and guaranteed payment for these first four airings even if the show doesn't reach that many reruns.

This is the second agreement covering basic cable television reached by the guild over the past few months.

A new contract covering animated programs produced for basic cable was ratified by the guild's national board on April 21.

greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com

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