'Link' inks with WGA

ABC's writing staff covered under minimum basic agreement

By DAVE MCNARY

HOLLYWOOD -- The Writers Guild of America West has signed the writing staff on ABC's "The Weakest Link" to its minimum basic agreement.

The writers are covered under Appendix A of the MBA, which covers game shows and includes provisions for minimums, residuals and pension and health contributions.

Prior to the conclusion of negotiations in May, the WGA signed first-time contract deals with production companies for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" that exempted the writing staffs of those shows from a strike order. Termination date of those deals matches that of the current MBA in 2004.