The Writers Guild of America and major studios reached a tentative four-year contract agreement on Saturday, concluding negotiations remarkably quickly after the acrimonious 2023 strike. The deal protects the guild's health plan, which lost an estimated $200 million in recent years, by securing increased company contributions. This swift resolution avoids a costly industry-wide halt, crucial as studios sought a five-year pact for cost predictability during rapid change. Four-year terms were agreed upon, one year longer than typical, to lower strike risks amid widespread layoffs and streaming contraction. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers confirmed the agreement, emphasizing industry stability. The guild's health fund protection is a key win for its 10,000 members facing uncertain coverage.