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BBC defends executive pay rises BBC defends executive pay rises
(about 1 hour later)
The BBC has defended pay rises of up to £107,000 each for executive directors saying it must offer competitive salaries for top jobs.The BBC has defended pay rises of up to £107,000 each for executive directors saying it must offer competitive salaries for top jobs.
Director general Mark Thompson said the levels of BBC pay and bonuses were "in many cases, a tiny patch on what other broadcasters are paying".Director general Mark Thompson said the levels of BBC pay and bonuses were "in many cases, a tiny patch on what other broadcasters are paying".
The figures were revealed in the corporation's annual report.The figures were revealed in the corporation's annual report.
The BBC also said it had succeeded in rebuilding trust after a series of phone-in scandals last year.The BBC also said it had succeeded in rebuilding trust after a series of phone-in scandals last year.
A series of audience feedback surveys stated that public trust in the BBC had "fully recovered" by the year's end.A series of audience feedback surveys stated that public trust in the BBC had "fully recovered" by the year's end.
Mr Thompson said pay for executive directors was "benchmarked" against private companies as well as public sector outfits including Royal Mail, Network Rail and Ofcom. 'Major restructuring'
He said that, after a major restructuring, a number of executive directors also had greater responsibilities which had been reflected in their pay. Mr Thompson - who waived his own right to a bonus because of the "scale of disruption and uncertainty" across the BBC - said pay for executive directors was "benchmarked" against private companies.
'Phenomenally successful' The pay of senior staff in public sector outfits including Royal Mail and Network Rail were also taken into account, he added.
"We also faced an episode in which the trust of our audience was seriously tested," Mr Thompson said. 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 Mark Thompson
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme Ashley Highfield, who has since left his post as future media executive director, saw a rise from the previous year in overall pay of £107,000 to £466,000.
"But the determined response of all the BBC to the problem, and subsequently the rigorous new safeguards that we put in place have resulted in levels of trust returning to normal." Mr Thompson said that, after "a major restructuring", a number of executive directors also had greater responsibilities which had been reflected in their pay.
In July 2007, the BBC suspended all competitions after an inquiry unearthed a fresh batch of faked phone-ins on six shows including Comic Relief. "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 added.
The director general also hailed the "phenomenally successful iPlayer", the BBC's online video service. BBC Vision director Jana Bennett had a total pay rise of more than £103,000, but Mr Thompson said her bonus had been reduced to £23,000 because of fakery scandals surrounding some TV shows.
WHERE LICENCE FEE WAS SPENT Television - £2,355m Radio - £598m Online services - £182mLicence fee collection - £351mDigital switchover - £27m Source: BBC annual report
In July 2007, the BBC suspended all competitions after an inquiry unearthed a fresh batch of faked phone-ins on six shows including Comic Relief. That followed early problems with phone-ins on Saturday Kitchen and Blue Peter.
In the same month, a documentary trailer that used footage out of sequence to falsely portray the Queen walking out of a photo session "in a huff" was shown to journalists.
'House in order'
At the start of 2007, licence fee payers questioned in a survey gave a mean score of 5.87 out of 10 for how much they agreed with the statement "I trust the BBC", the report said.
This began to drop after July 2007 and had fallen to 5.49 by October but, by May 2008 had returned to 5.89.
ENGAGING WITH AUDIENCES The BBC received over 1.1m contacts from the publicIt dealt with 124,000 complaintsEastEnders attracted the most complaints of any programme - 5,500850 network radio and TV shows were recorded with a live audience Source: BBC annual report
BBC Trust chairman Michael Lyons said: "The BBC's commitment to put its own house in order is clear and the action taken has strengthened the editorial framework and processes.
"Indeed, the BBC's clear demonstration of writing wrongs does not appear to have gone unnoticed. "
These measures included staff training and tighter editorial controls.
Director general Mr Thompson, meanwhile, also hailed the "phenomenally successful iPlayer", the BBC's online video service.
In January this year, it was announced that more than 3.5 million programmes had been watched by more than a million people on the iPlayer in the three weeks since its Christmas Day launch.In January this year, it was announced that more than 3.5 million programmes had been watched by more than a million people on the iPlayer in the three weeks since its Christmas Day launch.
The annual report is produced by both the BBC Trust, which was set up to oversee the corporation's activities, and the BBC's management. The annual report is produced by both the BBC's management and the BBC Trust, which was set up to oversee the corporation's activities and represent licence fee payers' interests.