DGA Ratifies New Contract, Securing Future Jobs

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has overwhelmingly approved a new four-year contract aimed at protecting its members' jobs during a challenging period for film and television production. This agreement was ratified on Thursday, June 26, 2026.

The contract, reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), includes a provision limiting actors and other non-directors to a maximum of two television episodes per season. This measure is intended to secure more directing opportunities for career TV directors.

Further bolstering member benefits, the DGA secured increased contributions to its health plan, raising them from 11.25% to 14% of compensation, with significantly higher caps. The deal also addresses the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI), ensuring that any AI-generated footage remains under a director's control and establishing an employer-funded program for AI training by the end of 2026.

The agreement also formalizes a new credit, "Pilot Directed By," to acknowledge the pilot director's foundational role in establishing a series' style. This credit will be standard on subsequent episodes, and pilot directors must be mentioned alongside creators in company press releases. The ratification concludes the current round of negotiations for major Hollywood unions without labor disputes.