MUMBAI: Representatives for the Writers Guild of America, whose members have been on strike since 5 November, will resume contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the major studios and production companies, on 26 November.

The announcement was made on 16 November, in a statement by both organizations. No other details were released.

The news was greeted with optimism throughout the entertainment industry, which has been hampered by the dispute.

The walkout has caused disruptions of regular television programming, including late-night talk shows and some scripted series.

The dispute has also affected numerous local businesses, from rental facilities to dry cleaners, which rely on the entertainment industry for survival.

The primary point of contention between the two sides remains compensation for content offered via the internet, cellular telephones, digital video recorders and other digital platforms.

This is the first writers’ strike since 1988, which lasted 22 weeks and cost the entertainment industry an estimated $500 million.