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05/07/2010
Wogan Criticises High BBC Salaries
A top TV presenter, Sir Terry Wogan has hit out against BBC high-earners.
In an interview with The Mail's Sunday Live magazine, the Radio 2 presenter said that "the good old days have passed" and that stars should not believe they were in a "privileged position" just because they worked in television.
He agreed that salaries are far too high stating: "They could stand to take a 10 to 15% cut. If the public sector is taking that, I see no reason why everybody shouldn't."
Wogan's remarks come ahead of the publication of the BBC's annual report due today.
The BBC's report follows comments on Sunday from Mark Thompson, the corporation's Director General, who warned that revealing the salaries of its top stars would be "damaging and destructive."
However he did say he supported the BBC Trust's plans to publish stars' earnings in pay bands without revealing individual salaries.
It was announced earlier this year that the BBC spends £54m on its highest-earning stars.
The BBC plans to further cut senior management's wages by 25% over three years.
BBC trustees are also taking an 8.3% pay cut for two years.
In regards to axing BBC 6 Music, Mr. Thompson said: "We're going to hear interim conclusions from the BBC Trust.
"We've got big questions about the future of digital radio, and I suspect one of the things the Trust are going to say is 'let's talk to government, let's talk to commercial radio and make sure that we've got a portfolio of radio stations."
(BMcN/BMcC)
In an interview with The Mail's Sunday Live magazine, the Radio 2 presenter said that "the good old days have passed" and that stars should not believe they were in a "privileged position" just because they worked in television.
He agreed that salaries are far too high stating: "They could stand to take a 10 to 15% cut. If the public sector is taking that, I see no reason why everybody shouldn't."
Wogan's remarks come ahead of the publication of the BBC's annual report due today.
The BBC's report follows comments on Sunday from Mark Thompson, the corporation's Director General, who warned that revealing the salaries of its top stars would be "damaging and destructive."
However he did say he supported the BBC Trust's plans to publish stars' earnings in pay bands without revealing individual salaries.
It was announced earlier this year that the BBC spends £54m on its highest-earning stars.
The BBC plans to further cut senior management's wages by 25% over three years.
BBC trustees are also taking an 8.3% pay cut for two years.
In regards to axing BBC 6 Music, Mr. Thompson said: "We're going to hear interim conclusions from the BBC Trust.
"We've got big questions about the future of digital radio, and I suspect one of the things the Trust are going to say is 'let's talk to government, let's talk to commercial radio and make sure that we've got a portfolio of radio stations."
(BMcN/BMcC)
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