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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| BBC defends executive pay rises | BBC defends executive pay rises |
| (20 minutes 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. |
| 'Major restructuring' | 'Major restructuring' |
| 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. | 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. |
| The pay of senior staff in public sector outfits including Royal Mail and Network Rail were also taken into account, he added. | The pay of senior staff in public sector outfits including Royal Mail and Network Rail were also taken into account, he added. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | 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. |
| Mr Thompson said that, after "a major restructuring", a number of executive directors also had greater responsibilities which had been reflected in their pay. | Mr Thompson said that, after "a major restructuring", a number of executive directors also had greater responsibilities which had been reflected in their pay. |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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. | 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 | 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 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. | 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' | '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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 righting wrongs does not appear to have gone unnoticed." | |
| These measures included staff training and tighter editorial controls. | 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. | 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's management and the BBC Trust, which was set up to oversee the corporation's activities and represent licence fee payers' interests. | 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. |