Performer Streaming Residuals Calculator

How Streaming Residuals Work (Plain English)

1. What Are Residuals?

Residuals are extra payments you earn if your performance keeps getting used—like reruns, streaming, or other re-showings. You originally got paid upfront (your initial compensation), but residuals kick in when the show or film continues to be available.

2. Understanding Your Residuals Rights

Producers are contractually obligated to pay residuals correctly, but verification is essential. SAG-AFTRA has audit rights to investigate payments, and the 2023 MOA includes specific reporting requirements designed to increase transparency.

This calculator helps you estimate what might be due based on information available to you. As a performer, you may not have access to complete subscriber counts, viewership data, or distribution details that impact your payments - but that shouldn't prevent you from understanding what you might reasonably expect.

If your received payments differ significantly from these estimates, consider discussing with your representative or contacting SAG-AFTRA to explore further.

3. Key Terms to Understand

• Ceiling: A cap on how much of your pay can be used to calculate residuals. If your pay is super high, the union contract may say “residual calculations stop at $X,XXX.”
• TAC (Total Actual Compensation): Just a fancy label for “the lower of your pay or the ‘ceiling’ amount.”
• Subscriber Factor: The bigger the platform (more subscribers), the larger your share can be. For example, a huge streamer might pay a factor of 90% vs. a smaller one paying 47%.
• Exhibition Year: Which year are we in since your show hit the streaming service? Year 1 usually pays the highest percentage, Year 2 a bit lower, etc.
• Tier 2 35%-Credit: If your show was lower-budget (Tier 2), your residual might be cut by 35% from what it would have been otherwise.
• Success-Based Bonus: Some deals double your final residual if the show is a major hit (like if 20% of subscribers watch it).

4. Step-by-Step Math

1. Check program length: That decides the “ceiling.” (A 1-hour might be ~$4,562.)
2. Compare your pay vs. that ceiling: Whichever is lower = your TAC.
3. Apply subscriber factors: The bigger the streaming platform, the higher the factor.
4. Apply the “Exhibition Year” percentage: Year 1 might be 45%, Year 2 is 40%, etc.
5. Account for Tier 2 or bonuses: If it’s Tier 2, you might reduce everything by 35%. If there’s a success bonus, you might double it.

5. Why Are There So Many Rules?

Because streaming is complicated, and each contract tries to balance fair pay with the platform’s concerns. The key is: if your final check is drastically different from what you see here, contact the SAG-AFTRA Residuals Department to investigate.

6. Closing Thoughts

The union staff does watch for errors. If something looks obviously wrong, reach out to your rep or SAG-AFTRA. This calculator is just to give you a ballpark figure so you can feel informed and confident.

Reference Tables (Latest SAG-AFTRA Terms)

Note: These were finalized in December 2023 but still in effect as of 2025 unless the union negotiates an update.

Ceiling Amounts

“Ceiling” = the maximum portion of your pay used for calculating residuals.

Subscriber Factors

Bigger subscriber base = higher factor. Typically each region has its own factor.

Exhibition Year Percentages

Later years (like 4, 5, 6, etc.) can drop further, but most folks check the early years first.

Budget Tiers

Tier 1 (High Budget): Usually $2+ million for half-hour, $3.8+ million for 1-hour, etc.
Tier 2 (Lower Budget): Next step down, e.g. $1.03+ million for half-hour, $1.75+ million for 1-hour.

“Not High Budget” means the standard “High Budget SVOD” residual formula may not apply.