BBC Trust review will not reveal pay of Jeremy Clarkson or other top stars

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jul/08/bbc-trust-review-pay-jeremy-clarkson-top-stars

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The BBC Trust’s review of how much the corporation’s star names are paid will not publish any details of its deals with star presenters such as Jeremy Clarkson and Graham Norton.

The trust said on Tuesday that the review, the first of its kind for five years, will examine how well the BBC has kept talent pay in check but would not make “specific editorial judgments”.

Consultants Oliver & Ohlbaum, who conducted the 2008 review, have again been appointed by the trust and will conclude their report by the end of the year.

Their report six years ago cleared the corporation of overpaying its presenters, who then still included Jonathan Ross, but criticised management for not being systematic or rigorous enough in negotiating individual deals and questioned whether its radio stars presenters were paid too much.

MPs later lambasted the salaries of its top radio presenters, saying the BBC appeared to be paying its star names twice the commercial going rate.

The BBC has reduced its talent bill by around 13% in the five years to 2012/13 and gives some detail on the pay brackets into which its biggest paid presenters fall in the corporation’s annual report. But it has resisted a detailed breakdown of presenters’ salaries on the grounds of data protection and commercial confidentiality.

The trust said its new review would “compare the size and structure of the BBC’s reward packages with those offered by other broadcasters. It will also examine whether the current policy of reducing costs has been successful, and if it is likely to be sustainable in the future”.

It will also consider whether the BBC has been “paying the market price for talent, and assess the processes and information available to manage talent costs, including the development of new talent”.

It said it would “focus on the extent to which executive decisions are well informed and controlled rather than evaluating specific editorial judgements, which are a matter for the BBC executive.

It added: “As a consequence of the requirements of the Data Protection Act and the need to protect the BBC’s ability to negotiate value for money deals, the review will not result in the publication of details relating to individual talent deals.”

The review will be led by the chairman of the trust’s value for money committee, Nick Prettejohn.

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