85 Bosses at the BBC earn more than Cameron

[RebelSouls]

We will spend your licence fee wisely

http://www.telegraph....-says-Gambaccini.html

[RebelSouls]

Tuesday July 13,2010
By Rod Mills

THE BBC was accused of wasting licence-payers’ money yesterday as it emerged it is sending more than 300 people to cover The Open golf championship.
The disclosure sparked criticism of excessive staffing of the event, which is being played at the Old Course in St Andrews, Fife, claims it highlights the unfair position the corporation has over its competitors.

Some 138 BBC personnel, a host of technical contractors and freelancers, and 35 people working for Radio Five Live will cover the event, providing 123 hours of TV programming, 43 hours of radio content and online coverage.

The Open begins on Thursday and the BBC has exclusive rights to the event, which will be hosted by Hazel Irvine.

The quota of 77 TV staff includes nine commentators, four from the children’s department and a team of librarians.

Twenty-four staff from BBC Scotland will attend.

A large of team of freelance technical staff including cameramen, riggers, sound staff, vision editors, as well as electricians and security guards are also on the BBC payroll.

The sports department refused to reveal the exact number of contractors it was employing although it is thought to be more than 200.

The BBC is also handing out free tickets for staff to attend in a “non-working capacity” after being given an allocation by tournament organisers, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.

Matthew Elliott, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Another day, another jolly for the BBC.

[kev1]

The BBC gives excellent year round programming of drama, far better coverage of all sporting events etc, and for this we pay the equivalent of ONE pint of beer per week.

Have you ever considered what ITV costs you or hasn't it occurred to you that advertisers put the cost of THEIR adverts on everything YOU buy.

Plus the BBC don't ruin every programme with twenty minutes of adverts PER HOUR.

[berniecuddles]

sorry kev must disagree its about time the license was scrapped and the bbc looked after itself!!
i love to watch sport ie;football and i by choice i pay for sky to get it as the sport on bbc is nowhere what it used to be!
i very very rarely watch anything on the bbc and never listen to the radio at all so i would be quite happy to pay for lets say pay as you watch bbc instead of having to pay for a license for a station i rarely watch i do believe i should be given a choice, plus the waste of the license money like idiots jonathon ross gets is absolutley scandalous the money he has received for doing what?? a couple of hours a week!
no- no bring in pay per view much fairer.

[bibblebub]

Since when (other than the last few months in the media) has the PM's salary been a yardstick for anything?

[jackthehat]

Surely it is not beyond the wit of someone to realise that a cut in the numbers of BBC staff sent to cover these sporting events, could have left more in the kitty for the BBC to use when bidding for the rights to show other events...........?

[jno]

the BBC will be covering the event for three platforms - radio, TV and internet. So, exactly how many riggers do *you* think they should have there?

[boxtops]

I know a lot of people who earn more than Cameron, many of them in the public sector, so also paid for by the tax-paying public.

[Coobeastie]

Gambaccini now employed by the famously anti-beeb Murdoch funny that.

The Prime Ministerial wage is bolstered substantially by perks but that shouldn't stop the Telegraph spoiling a good story.

People will quite happily pay at inflated prices for football memorabilia, season tickets & sky subscriptions etc to help support the players 100k + a week wages but heaven forbid if somebody is supposedly earning more than the Prime Minister in public office.

[Hopkirk]

i remember when England were knocked out of the World Cup in Germany a few years ago.

A few days later on 5Live, one of the BBC journalists out there was asked on the radio if it was a bit lonely out there, if everyone had gone home.

He laughed and said "You know the BBC, never knowingly understaffed"

... and that was from a BBC insider.

[jno]

for running a country the size of Britain, the prime minister isn't really paid very much money. But as there are still plenty of qualified people chasing the job, what would be the point of raising the pay? The law of supply and demand seems to be working well.

The reason of course is that they aren't after the job for the money but for the power. Being a BBC manager doesn't offer the same power as 10 Downing St, so they have to use financial inducements to fill the jobs.

[BertiWooster]

// Have you ever considered what ITV costs you or hasn't it occurred to you that advertisers put the cost of THEIR adverts on everything YOU buy //

No sh1t - really ?

The point here is that one makes a choice as to what products one buys and from what company
In the case of the tv Licence you dont get a choice - you're forced to pay this tax , irrespective as to what channel you may or may not choose to watch .

While on the subject , i'm convinced that there is a lot of waste and duplication in the
BBC . Editor / Head of this , Editor/ Head of that .
Whils't the system, is that the cooperation is guranteed a constant wad of cash , there is no incentive to cut costs /wages / be efficient .

At least the new culture secretary appears to have recognised this - i hope it is not just words , but that real action will be taken .

[Zeuhl]

There are lots of people in UK paid more than the PM's 'salary' - not just the BBC.

Not only does the licence fee provide unequalled value for money in terms of the channels, services and programming; it also sets a high standard for all broadcasters in the UK.

Seriously, although they may produce the occassional good drama or sitcom - have you actually seen the abysmal standard of broadcasting in other countries - including the US?

And does anyone in their right mind want their media totally controlled by the likes of Rupert Murdoch?

Anyone who begrudges the BBC their x pence a day must be stupid.
.