Netflix and SAG-AFTRA reached a podcast agreement over newly minted “The Pete Davidson Show.”
Though the streamer describes the talk show as a video podcast, its budget and exclusivity with Netflix more closely resemble that of a TV show. The actors union reached out to the streamer to clarify which category Davidson’s show would fall into and later struck a podcast agreement with the company.
“SAG-AFTRA and Netflix have executed a podcast agreement covering ‘The Pete Davidson Show,’” representatives from the union and Netflix said in a joint statement to TheWrap.
Neither the union nor the streamer disclosed the terms of the podcast agreement for the “SNL” alum’s show.
The podcast section of SAG-AFTRA’s website breaks down podcast agreements into MicroPods and Independent Podcast agreements. Independent shows represent those that make more than $10,000 per season or year, whichever applies.
Under the podcast agreement, benefit contributions are required at a 20% rate and are capped at $15,000 per episode or $100,000 per season, per performer, for independent shows. Under both the MicroPod Agreement and Independent Podcast Agreement, rates are subject to negotiation between the producer and talent.
SAG-AFTRA will negotiate term agreements with production companies that include minimum rates and specific terms that may differ from “promulgated agreements,” according to the site.
A sample Independent Podcast Agreement from 2024 is available on the SAG-AFTRA website, detailing negotiable pay rates for performers, union protections and addendums for advertisements within podcasts.
“The Pete Davidson Show” premiered on Netflix, Jan. 30. The first two episodes of the podcast featured interviews with Charlamagne Tha God (whose podcast “The Breakfast Club” is available to stream on the platform) and rapper Machine Gun Kelly.
Above Average president Marc Lieberman produces the podcast with Ayala Cohen, former head of talent at “SNL.” Sarah Brennan Kolb directs the series.
