The BBC is to impose a cap on pay for individual recruits, for the first time, under the terms of its new ‘transparent remuneration policy’.
Announced by chief operating officer Caroline Thomson, the policy will include a ‘clear and explicit discount against the private sector’ when setting pay levels for newly recruited senior managers.
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Thomson said the discount would make BBC salaries ‘tens of per cents’ lower than those for similar jobs at commercial broadcasters such as Sky and ITV. The new pay policy will be implemented later this year, the Telegraph has reported.
Stung by criticism over the amount it pays its stars and senior management, the BBC has opted instead for increasing reliance on internal people. Thomson said: “For both on-air talent and senior managers, ‘grow our own’ will increasingly be the policy from now on.”