Mass-communication is paid for in advertising dollars. Newspapers, Radio, and TV all work the same way. Ratings are used to set the advertising rates which brings in revenue to the business. This pays for the operating expenses of production. With the rise of digital media, TV networks are now streaming more and more of their content. This means more cash for the networks for the same work of production. This brings a disparity because the Networks get more profit without compensating the Writers for their work on these new distribution channels. Residual income from secondary distributions are a necessary part of a writer’s income that is typically relied upon during periods of unemployment common in the writing industry.

To celebrate the increased equity towards the Writers, here’s Lazy Sunday, an SNL sketch that was viewed more than five million times at YouTube before being removed by NBC in February 2006. This clip is on Hulu, which pays the Network through advertising, and now the Network gives the Writer’s a cut too. Cheers!