Actors deal on commercials

The two actors' unions, working together, have reached a tentative three-year contract with ad agencies and advertisers. Quite a contrast to what happened on the feature side, where the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists split off prior to the start of contract talks last year (SAG has yet to cut a new deal). The new commercial deal contains a $36 million increase in wage rates and other payments for all categories of performers in the first year, according to the two unions. There also are increased contributions to the SAG Pension and Health Plan and the AFTRA Health and Retirement Fund. The old contract expired at midnight Tuesday. (THR)