LOS ANGELES " The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists says it has agreed to a tentative deal with Hollywood studios on a new three-year contract.
The union said early Wednesday that the deal establishes fees for content streamed and downloaded over the Internet and preserves actors' rights of consent on the use of their voices and images in online clips.
The agreement over a handful of prime-time TV shows such as "Curb Your Enthusiasm" will last through June 2011 if it is approved AFTRA's national board and ratified by members.
The deal greatly reduces the chance of an actors strike, although larger of the two actors unions, the Screen Actors Guild, is set to resume its stalled talks with the studios Wednesday morning.