BBC to reveal salaries of its stars

Jeremy Clarkson will be glad he is out of the BBC given a new policy to reveal the salaries of talent who earn more than £150,000 ($AU264,000).

It is likely to mean stars such as Graham Norton, Chris Evans, Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman and former soccer star Gary Lineker will see their salaries become public knowledge.

A draft of the BBC Charter outlining the change follows the recommendations of a government ‘white paper’ to provide more transparency for the public broadcaster. 109 TV and radio presenters earn more than £150,000 according to the latest BBC annual report.

The BBC has opposed detailed star pay disclosures, arguing this would give competitors a better idea how to poach top names. Currently, the BBC discloses the amounts received by its highest-paid stars in broad terms and broad bands without details the pay of specific people.

Tony Hall, Director-General of the BBC said: “Our position on talent pay has not changed and all major broadcasters have questioned the merit of the proposal. The BBC is already incredibly transparent and we publish what we spend on talent pay – a bill which has fallen in recent years. The BBC operates in a competitive market and this will not make it easier for the BBC to retain the talent the public love. Ultimately, the BBC should be judged on the quality of its programmes.”

This week BBC’s biggest show The Great British Bake Off was poached by Channel 4.

The move to disclose salaries echoes previous sentiments in Australia including Freedom of Information requests from Murdoch press to disclose ABC salaries. In 2013 The Australian controversially published salaries of ABC management and profile personalities.

Source: BBC, Hollywood Reporter