ACTORS, ADVERTISERS TALKS ON COMMERCIALS RECESSED

Negotiations have reached a standstill between the national television advertisers and the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists over a new three-year contract covering TV and radio commercials.

In a joint statement, the advertisers’ joint policy committee and the actors’ unions said that the negotiations, which have been in session since Jan. 7, have been recessed until next Thursday to give the industry and union negotiators time to report to their principals on the status of negotiations.

The current three-year agreement between the Assn. of National Advertisers and the talent unions expires at midnight Wednesday. The statement said both parties are still undecided whether negotiations would resume next Thursday on a day-to-day basis, or whether the contract would be extended for a limited period while negotiations continued.

The contract covers all TV and radio commercials, and affects a majority of the unions’ combined membership of 100,000 performers. The advertisers’ association represents both TV and radio advertisers, and all the major advertising agencies, totaling 180 companies in all.