Negotiators for the screenwriters union in Hollywood have announced that they are recommending a strike in a dispute over royalty payments.
The US screenwriters' union has called a strike starting next Monday to demand a greater share in royalty payments from DVDs and new media sales.
A strike is expected to have a big impact on US film and TV production and will be the first industrial action of its kind for nearly 20 years.
About 12,000 members of the Writers Guild of America are being asked to cease work and set up picket lines from 0001 local time (0701 GMT).
Union leaders will meet simultaneously in New York and Los Angeles on Friday to approve the move.
The last such action, nearly 20 years ago, lasted 22 weeks and disrupted the autumn television season.
The strike threat comes after talks with producers broke down.
Studio representatives are hoping for a last-minute deal to halt the stoppage.
Negotiators for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) had met the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on Wednesday, hours before an existing agreement expired.
There is no backlog of scripts Amy PoehlerCast member on Saturday Night Live
The strike deadline was issued by WGA leaders on Friday on the recommendation of their negotiators, after talks with producers broke down.
"The Writers Guilds will go on strike Monday, November 5th at 1201 AM," a statement said.
"At that time, all Guild-covered work under the MBA [Minimum Basic Agreement] must cease."
The union called for volunteers to man picket lines.
'DVD roadblock'
Talks between WGA negotiators and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) broke down on Wednesday, hours before an existing agreement was due to expire.
Writers have been talking their protest to the street already
Writers are demanding an increase in the fees they receive when their work is reproduced on DVDs, the internet, mobile phones and other electronic devices.
Writers are demanding an increase in the fees they receive when their work is reproduced on DVDs, the internet, mobile phones and other electronic devices.
Producers reject their demands as unworkable.
Producers reject their demands as unworkable.
'Now or never'
Michael Winship, president of the WGA on the East Coast, said there was still time for producers to avoid the action.
Some of the most popular shows on US television could be forced off the air if writers go ahead with the strike, the BBC's Peter Bowes reports from Los Angeles.
"We urge the studios to come back and bargain fairly," he said after the strike announcement.
Hollywood writers fear networks will resort to repeats and reality shows
Nick Counter, president of the AMPTP, said the studios were ready to meet and finish negotiations over the weekend.
Five thousand members of the WGA recently took part in a ballot and 90% voted in favour of industrial action.
Earlier, Mr Counter had said no progress was possible at the talks "for overriding business reasons" as long as writers insisted on increasing royalties from DVD sales.
The dispute focuses attention on the rapidly growing market for on-demand entertainment.
"The DVD issue is a roadblock to these negotiations," he added.
"The guild has never had the resolve to go the distance," said Harris Goldberg, screenwriter of Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo.
Gradual effect
"They feel that if they don't do it now, they're never going to be able to do it again."
Some of the most popular shows on US television could be forced off the air if writers go ahead with the strike.
Another writer, Dave Garrett, told the Associated Press that there were cheers when the strike announcement was made at a closed-door session:
Late-night talk shows are expected to stop almost immediately since they rely on a daily supply of topical jokes.
"There was a unified feeling in the room. I don't think anyone wants the strike, but people are behind the negotiation committee."
Television host David Letterman described producers as "cowards, cutthroats and weasels" on his CBS show on Thursday.
'DVD roadblock'
The comedy show Saturday Night Live could also suffer immediately.
The AMPTP said no progress was possible "for overriding business reasons" as long as writers insisted on increasing royalties from DVD sales.
"Boom - our show just shuts down," Amy Poehler, a member of the cast, told LA-based newspaper Daily Variety.
"We are ready to meet at any time and remain committed to reaching a fair and reasonable deal that keeps the industry working, but the DVD issue is a roadblock to these negotiations," said J Nicholas Counter, the AMPTP's president, added.
"It's just done. There is no backlog of scripts."
The effects of any strike would not be felt immediately, our correspondent says.
While it could be months before the TV networks run out of programmes that have already been made, Hollywood analysts expect the supply of shows such as Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty and CSI to fizzle out by next spring.
In fact it could be months before the TV networks run out of programmes that have already been made.
But if the dispute drags on, Hollywood analysts expect the supply of shows such as Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty and CSI to fizzle out by next spring.
Many writers fear the TV networks will simply turn to more repeats and reality programmes to fill the gap left by scripted shows.
Many writers fear the TV networks will simply turn to more repeats and reality programmes to fill the gap left by scripted shows.
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