Latest news with #Skippy
The Age
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
A right royalty battle: Why some actors get repeatedly shafted
Training thoroughbreds proved a lucrative vocation for Gai Waterhouse, but she'd be hard-pressed to find a pony that can deliver as enduring a return as her 1978 appearance on cult UK TV series Doctor Who. For nearly half a century, Waterhouse has received an annual royalty payment from Doctor Who 's owner, the BBC. Last month, it was $225.57. 'In another lifetime, I acted in London,' she explains. 'I'm still receiving royalties. Isn't it incredible?' At 23, she starred as an animal pelt-wearing hunter named Presta, opposite the fourth doctor, Tom Baker. Last year, the BBC estimated the show made £100 million annually in licensing, merchandising deals and broadcast sales. However, Waterhouse is a rarity; back then, 'residuals' weren't common for actors. From 1968 to 1970, Sydney actor Tony Bonner, now 81, played the dashing helicopter pilot Jerry King on Skippy, another hugely successful TV series that screened in more than 100 countries. Bonner launched an ambitious court case in 2008 for a share of royalties, suing the production company, Fauna, for $750,000 in the NSW Supreme Court. But Bonner's claim failed after Justice Ian Gzell found Bonner had been paid $140 a week in accordance with his contract and was not entitled to any further share of Skippy 's profits, having assigned all rights to Fauna. 'While my case wasn't a success, I do feel it helped other actors coming through,' Bonner tells me. 'Knowledge is power.' TV historian Andrew Mercado says up until the 1980s, only a few actors 'had the foresight to demand a contract that would pay them for repeats past the initial two runs … they didn't think of VHS and box sets, let alone streaming.' In 2017, Rowena Wallace, once one of the highest-paid actors in the country for her role as 'Pat the rat' in the '80s soap Sons and Daughters, revealed on national TV that she was so poor she couldn't feed herself after paying for her pet's dog food. Her co-star, the late Leila Hayes, waged a lengthy but unsuccessful battle with the show's producer, the late multimillionaire media mogul Reg Grundy, over residuals. Loading In 2013, Colette Mann, who played inmate Doreen in Grundy's Prisoner and was also the actors' union rep on set, revealed she went to court to get a residuals deal for the cast, which only came into effect after Prisoner had ended; it resulted in modest payments. But Val Lehman, who played Bea Smith and was one of the show's top stars, negotiated her own contract that included ongoing royalties, including DVD sales. Like Gai Waterhouse's Presta, Queen Bea's life of crime is still reaping dividends, it seems.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
A right royalty battle: Why some actors get repeatedly shafted
Training thoroughbreds proved a lucrative vocation for Gai Waterhouse, but she'd be hard-pressed to find a pony that can deliver as enduring a return as her 1978 appearance on cult UK TV series Doctor Who. For nearly half a century, Waterhouse has received an annual royalty payment from Doctor Who 's owner, the BBC. Last month, it was $225.57. 'In another lifetime, I acted in London,' she explains. 'I'm still receiving royalties. Isn't it incredible?' At 23, she starred as an animal pelt-wearing hunter named Presta, opposite the fourth doctor, Tom Baker. Last year, the BBC estimated the show made £100 million annually in licensing, merchandising deals and broadcast sales. However, Waterhouse is a rarity; back then, 'residuals' weren't common for actors. From 1968 to 1970, Sydney actor Tony Bonner, now 81, played the dashing helicopter pilot Jerry King on Skippy, another hugely successful TV series that screened in more than 100 countries. Bonner launched an ambitious court case in 2008 for a share of royalties, suing the production company, Fauna, for $750,000 in the NSW Supreme Court. But Bonner's claim failed after Justice Ian Gzell found Bonner had been paid $140 a week in accordance with his contract and was not entitled to any further share of Skippy 's profits, having assigned all rights to Fauna. 'While my case wasn't a success, I do feel it helped other actors coming through,' Bonner tells me. 'Knowledge is power.' TV historian Andrew Mercado says up until the 1980s, only a few actors 'had the foresight to demand a contract that would pay them for repeats past the initial two runs … they didn't think of VHS and box sets, let alone streaming.' In 2017, Rowena Wallace, once one of the highest-paid actors in the country for her role as 'Pat the rat' in the '80s soap Sons and Daughters, revealed on national TV that she was so poor she couldn't feed herself after paying for her pet's dog food. Her co-star, the late Leila Hayes, waged a lengthy but unsuccessful battle with the show's producer, the late multimillionaire media mogul Reg Grundy, over residuals. Loading In 2013, Colette Mann, who played inmate Doreen in Grundy's Prisoner and was also the actors' union rep on set, revealed she went to court to get a residuals deal for the cast, which only came into effect after Prisoner had ended; it resulted in modest payments. But Val Lehman, who played Bea Smith and was one of the show's top stars, negotiated her own contract that included ongoing royalties, including DVD sales. Like Gai Waterhouse's Presta, Queen Bea's life of crime is still reaping dividends, it seems.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hormel Foods names interim chief exec but still no permanent CEO
Hormel Foods has appointed former CEO and board member Jeffrey Ettinger as the US group's interim chief executive – and said it will be more than a year until the role is filled permanently. Jim Snee, the Skippy peanut butter maker's CEO and president, announced his retirement in January after eight years at the helm. In a statement yesterday (23 June), Hormel said Ettinger would hold the role of interim CEO up to some time in October next year. "The Hormel Foods CEO search committee will now be dissolved, with the board planning to install the permanent chief executive officer in October 2026," Hormel said. The company also announced John Ghingo will be promoted to the role of president. Ghingo is executive vice president for Hormel's retail business unit, which houses the company's consumer brands. He has been in the role since 2024 after four years leading Hormel subsidiary Applegate Farms. Ettinger stepped down from the position of CEO in 2016 to serve as Hormel's chairman of the board. 'During his tenure, Ettinger earned a reputation for driving performance and results. With his deep knowledge of the company and its culture, and his experience with the company's external stakeholders, he will be a strong partner to Ghingo,' Hormel said yesterday. Last month, the Spam maker reported a drop in half-year profits on the back of weak sales growth. Operating income in the six months to 27 April dropped 11% to $477m and declined 9% on an adjusted basis to $519m. Net earnings stood at $350.3m, versus $407.9m in the corresponding period the previous year. Net sales inched up 0.1% to $5.89bn. On an organic basis, net sales grew 1%. In the second quarter, the sales from Hormel's retail division were flat, with volumes declining 7% amid "lower commodity shipments and contract manufacturing". Speaking to analysts after Hormel announced the results, the company's management said it expects its growth to accelerate in the second half. "Hormel Foods names interim chief exec but still no permanent CEO" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
CTV News
23-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Hormel Foods' former CEO Jeffrey Ettinger to return on interim basis
A former CEO of Hormel Foods, the parent company for Skippy peanut, butter returns on an interim basis. Hormel Foods said on Monday former CEO Jeffrey Ettinger will return to helm the Skippy peanut butter maker on an interim basis for 15 months starting July 14. Ettinger, 66, served as chief executive from 2005 to 2016 and will replace current Hormel CEO and president James Snee, 57, who announced his retirement in January. The management transition comes after the company last month tightened its annual profit forecast towards the lower end as it struggles with supply chain issues and weak demand. Snee will serve as a special advisor to the company until Oct. 26 this year, and Hormel expects him to stay on as a consultant for another 18 months after that, the company said in a regulatory filing. The company said it plans to name a permanent CEO in October next year. It has also appointed John Ghingo, executive vice president for the retail business unit, as president of the company, also effective July 14. Hormel had previously said Snee will serve as a strategic advisor to the board until the end of his tenure and for 18 months afterward. (Reporting by Neil J Kanatt in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)
Wall Street Journal
23-06-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Ettinger Returns to Hormel Foods as Interim CEO
Jeffrey Ettinger is returning to Hormel Foods HRL 0.83%increase; green up pointing triangle to serve as its interim chief executive for 15 months, effective July 14. Ettinger, who currently serves on the company's board, had a nearly three-decade long career with the maker of Spam lunch meat and Skippy peanut butter, having previously served as both president and CEO, the company said Monday.
