Should Bbc Stars Be Forced To Reveal Their Salaries?

[sp1814]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/bbc-stars-who-earn-more-than-the-prime-minister-should-be-forced-to-publish-their-salaries-say-mps-a7167516.html

And why is the Prime Minister's salary be used as a benchmark for this pointless exercise?

[whiskeryron]

And then we should start on salaries for kicking a ball on a bit of grass.

[andy-hughes]

I always think of 'The Blood Donor' sketch with Tony Hancock -

"Do you know, Adam Faith earns ten times as much as the Prime Minister, is that right? ........ IS THAT RIGHT!!!!

I suppose it depends on whether you like Adam Faith and what your politics are ....."

That was over fifty years ago - nothing has changed.

[Bazile]

I don't give a fig what they earn ( well actually i do ) - given that i am forced to contribute directly .

[Cloverjo]

No. It might feel unfair that people on telly get paid a lot of money for what they do. But, they are good at what they do, whether you like them or not. Should everyone who earns more than the PM have to reveal their income? No.

[jambutty]

No.

[andy-hughes]

It's like Jeremy Paxman telling us that a team has 'an average age of 20 ...' and something being 'the size of Wales', and The Rolling Stones having a combined age of 847 - it's utterly meaningless.

[dannyk13]

No, what purpose would it serve?

[ToraToraTora]

No

[ToraToraTora]

and why is the PM's salary in any way significant?

[AB Editor]

It is a strange benchmark.

Maybe everyone's salaries should be published? It would certainly make various pay gaps disappear quickish.

[jackthehat]

Hmmmm.........
I'm not so much bothered by what they earn, as I am interested in what the BBC pays them (yes, I realise that it's the same thing).
I'd like to think that the country is getting value for its' money, especially as we don't have any option other than to pay the licence.

[andy-hughes]

Jackthehat - //I'm not so much bothered by what they earn, as I am interested in what the BBC pays them (yes, I realise that it's the same thing). //

I don't think it is.

If you take Premier League footballers, whose salaries are similarly contentious - a player who is paid £5million a year cannot reasonably be said to have earned it - so I believe the two are distinct and different.

I earn a million pounds a week, my employer sadly pays me significantly less than that!!!

[Cloverjo]

I am bothered by footballers getting ridiculous amounts of money and complain they're too tired to run around a bit for an hour and a half once a week.
Let's make them reveal their salaries, if we want to make anyone do so.

[Zacs-Master]

Ed...'Maybe everyone's salaries should be published?'

Go on then....you first.

[sp1814]

Actually, you could argue that because the BBC is publicly funded, we as licence payers should know what stars earn.

I don't think that's right. Salaries of BBC executives should be made known, but not the salaries of stars. There is a 'going rate' (known in business as the 'compa ratio'), which apply to back office staff - but money paid to 'front of camera' talent is commercially sensitive.

I would mean the BBC would be forced into a commercially compromised position not imposed on any other broadcaster.

Basically, if ITV wanted to poach Claudia Winkleman, they would know exactly how much to offer, but if the BBC wanted to sign up Ant & Dec, they wouldn't.

[douglas9401]

"... something being 'the size of Wales'... it's utterly meaningless."

Unless you happen to live on the coast of Wales. :-P

[Old_Geezer]

The taxpayer funds the BBC so I don't see it is a big deal to be allowed data regarding how it might be being squandered. If the BBC are using the budget wisely they can comply with the empty list.

[Old_Geezer]

If Claudia Winkleman (or anyone else) wanted to grab more than was reasonable then the BBC ought not want to hire her anyway.

[Peter Pedant]

// If Claudia Winkleman (or anyone else) wanted to grab more than was reasonable then the BBC ought not want to hire her anyway.//

old geezer - when you wrote this - I bet you were thinking
" and I want to grab Claudia W - hur hur hur "

[Old_Geezer]

It'd cost her >£143,462 !