Is the BBC right to reward its top executives with big pay rises?

The BBC has come under attack about the salaries paid to its top executives in a year of job cuts and deception scandals.

The corporation's annual report revealed that its ten executive directors were paid a total of £733,000 more in 2007/8 than in 2006/7 -- including a £28,000 increase for director-general Mark Thompson.

Thompson defended the wages paid to its executives by arguing they were lower than their market equivalents. "When you actually get out into the external world, some potential candidates almost roll on the floor laughing when you talk about potential levels of pay," he said.

Yet, in the autumn, the BBC announced it would cut up to 1,800 jobs, whilst in July Ofcom imposed its first fine on the corporation after Blue Peter faked a phone-in competition winner.

Is Thompson right and are the salary rises justified?

Absurd - Tim Davie, most recently marketing director, got paid over £400k.

I very much doubt that David Pemsel at ITV or Polly Cochrane at C4 get anything like that. 'Reflects the market rates' - what tosh.

The idea of market rates is a smokescreen. The BBC creates the market. No one is saying its staff should be pain a pittance. They should be paid competitive salaries, but lavishing bonuses on these people who are already well remunerated is taking the piss.

 Exactly where would most of them go if they left the BBC? Where are the equivalent jobs in the private sector? They simply do not exist.
 

IT cannot be right, but in this crazy world if that is the market rate then they have to pay however as they use the BBC for their own  media promotioon and exposure to rack up huge amounts in speaking fees and so on, some of the basic should be rebated back to the BBC.

The BBc should drop the idea that it is a public service broadcaster, the on air plugs and infomercials Finding Maria etc  for Lord Lloyd webbers musicals has created record business for west end Musicals  but again how much of that has trickled back to the BBC. Dion't get me wrong if the saintly Lord can conn the coprporation into diong these shows then good luck to him, the people at the Beeb are just too stupid to realise what they have given away for free! Well virtually free! Hopefully they will award journalists and those in the front line similar awards and not just 2% over base.

Duck ....Big Pig flying overhead....

Remember every penny raised came out of our pockets to fund this now very commercial enterprise......   

Regards Julian Bray    Http://eventandroadshowplanners.com

I agree with Julian and everyone else's comments here. However, regarding Julian's comment, contrary to the headlines this week I've heard that the West End as a whole is actually doing quite badly. I have a friend who works on the marketing side of the business and she said the only musicals doing well are the BBC promoted ones at the expense of many of the new ones and plays. Sounds like yet another example of how the BBC uses its licence fee muscle to unfairly distort a commercial market, while also lining the pockets of Julian Lloyd Webber with what amounts to free advertising for his business enterprises.

I think they get too much cash.

Does their work load really justify that sort of pay?

I doubt it.

The pay rates and bonuses for these executives is a farce. As previously mentioned these way over the market rates. And what exactly do they get the bonuses for? Earning more money for the BBC? Or perhaps being more smug than the very smug crowd that pat each other on the back at Television Centre? Whilst it continues to audience chase the BBC can not call itself a public service broadcaster. Cancel the TV license and allow them to survive on their very well honed commercial skills. They will be a runaway success. i guarantee it.

Gosh, if there were self-serving systems, checks and balances like this across all public service jobs, just imagine the mess the UK would be in. Oh. The lunatics have hired the incompetents to not only mis-run the asylum, but also set their own levels of remuneration to do so. I am trying to envisage how exactly this country will function when there are 59,999,999 on the public payroll sucking dry the last poor sod actually doing something of value... and which they are held fully accountable for. On the BBC, I could care less what the others are doing; their companies' fortunes, and the salaries they make in 'helping', rise or fall with the market. They do not force me on pain of prison to pay for their antics, on and off air, no matter how much I do not see any value to them. And the feedback/complaint systems, from Newswatch to 'The Trust', are a bad joke. If these executives feel they can do better in other areas then, just like the 'stars' they are too lazy or incompetent to seek replacements for, they are welcome to make the leap. There is a vast talent pool out there, and no one irreplaceable. Plus working with the only national broadcasting entity that gives one access to an audience of 60M is an amazing opportunity that should be treasured, not taken advantage of. Especially when, by any measure, it's not like anyone who comes in subsequently could do much worse. And it just adds insult to injury to find I am now fighting for audience share against a pretty-much open cheque-funded outfit... that I am also obliged to contribute to!

The BBC pretends to be the nations eyes, ears and mouthpiece - but they're so out of tune with the real-world it's ridiculous.Given, their money is a dirty subject. They pretty much can't win because they're spending 'our' hard-earned cash. That said, they're timing, as ever, is poor. The nation is reeling, as is their under-performing corporation - so big bonuses and pay increases are outrageous at this time.

keeps the hand-wringing lefty tossers in Chardonnay I suppose

I'm not sure what all the fuss is all about; I think the executives deserve their money: after all, the BBC over the years has been responsible for cultural classics such as 'Allo 'Allo and The Antiques Roadshow.

All those whining out of their sloppy orifices about how the executives' payrise is a waste of taxpayers' money should stop paying the licence fee, sell their 34-inch televisions and pick up a book at their local library - although you probably don't acknowledge that books exist any more because your heads are shoved so far up your digital arses.

I recommend "Michael Heseltine: Life In The Jungle".

I'm sure the BBC will turn the tome into an entertaining and informative costume drama when Tarzan finally hangs up his tartan slippers. Then you might learn a thing or two about market forces.

PS: more please, BBC!
 

 

I think you will find that the things which makes you remember the BBC fondly are the things that are not made anymore. You have quoted two shows both of which started life off in the 1960's and 1970's. All those executives responsible have long gone- like David Attenborough- who only comes in to make another wildlife series every 5 years or so.

Those people had a more decent attitude to what they should be showing and making and how much was a decent thing to be paid- now this new division of dimwits with their snouts in the trough does re-runs, makeovers, attic bargain hunts, celebrity garden bargain hunts, cooking celebrity makeover garden attic fashion hunts,fat garden celebrity cooking makeover hospital cancer bargain hunts....

 

andf pay themselves half a million quid a year PLUS pension. IT'S OUR MONEY, and that's what's painful.