SAG-AFTRA has announced that its 2025 National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting is now up for member ratification. The agreement, developed by the Network Television Code Negotiating Committee, includes several updates to wages, benefits, and working conditions for performers working under the Network Code.
According to union officials, the new contract will increase the benefit plan contribution rate by one percentage point and reallocate existing contributions. These changes are expected to raise the AFTRA Retirement Fund contribution rate by 3.3 percentage points, providing additional resources for members’ retirement security. Wages would also rise by 3.5% in the first year, 3% in the second year, and another 3% in the third year—amounting to a compounded increase of nearly 9.8% over three years—with targeted increases for certain performer categories.
The agreement addresses several other issues important to members. Streaming coverage has been expanded for sports broadcasters covering a variety of events. Protections have been strengthened for young performers, including background checks on supervisors and teachers, education requirements for emancipated minors, and improved access to video or audio feeds for parents or guardians.
Other provisions include improved terms for dancers and singers, measures to ensure hair and makeup equity, earlier access to disability accommodations, and enhanced conditions for background actors, promo announcers, stand-ins, and reporters.
Network television performers can also expect a commitment that future artificial intelligence terms negotiated in the upcoming 2026 TV/Theatrical Agreement will be adopted into the Network Code. High-budget non-dramatic entertainment programs produced for subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services will now be subject to scale minimums set by the Network Code.
Additional improvements include better exclusivity limitations so performers can seek other work between jobs; mandatory use of intimacy coordinators during scenes involving nudity or simulated sex; advance notification requirements when such scenes involve background performers; higher rates for dancers performing at major events like the Super Bowl Halftime Show; increased payments for singers who multi-track or sweeten multiple times per session; and earlier provision of information regarding disability accommodations.
“This is a deal that raises the bar and addresses our evolving needs in the changing media landscape,” said Keri Tombazian, Chair of the Network Television Code Negotiating Committee.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator added: “Thank you all for your continued engagement in the contract ratification process and for building a better future for your union colleagues.”
Member informational meetings are scheduled on August 4 and August 11. Eligible members received postcards about voting procedures on July 30. Voting closes at 5 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, August 20 at vote.ivsballot.com/netcode2025.
Further details about the tentative agreement are available at https://www.sagaftra.org/netcode2025.
