MPs tell BBC to stop crying wolf – and cut £52m pay bill
THE BBC should stop crying wolf about the future of flagship services and instead get serious about slashing its £52 million-a-year bill for senior managers, say MPs.
Tory backbenchers are angry about the BBC’s suggestions that the only way it can save money is by closing flagship channels like BBC Four.
They have accused the broadcaster of scaremongering and want it to start talking seriously about cutting back on ‘bloated’ staffing costs.
Their criticisms come just days after Lord Hall, the BBC’s Director-General, made a speech about its future which led to speculation that BBC Four and children’s TV services CBBC and Cbeebies could be moved online.
But critics claim such threats are groundless and are simply designed to whip up public support for the BBC,
Damian Collins, a Tory member of the House of Commons media and sport select committee said: ‘There are all sorts of kites being flown suggesting popular services will be cut when we know that won’t happen.’
He added: ‘I think what they are trying to do is hit upon populist areas of the BBC where they know there is a vocal audience of people who will be appalled by the idea of them going.’
Collins said the BBC, which is now picking up the £750million-a-year bill for concessionary TV licences for the elderly, should look at making savings and do more to exploit its brand.
He said: ‘There is enormous untapped potential for the BBC to make more money which it can invest back into programming. I think the key thing should be to make the iPlayer the gateway to the BBC’s back catalogue.
‘It should remain free for recent content but if viewers wanted to watch programmes from some time ago they should pay. It would become a Netflix-type service.’
Figures released last year showed that 91 BBC executives earned more than David Cameron and 11 bosses got more than double his salary. The Corporation’s highest paid employees include Lord Hall who has a total remuneration package of £450,000, Helen Boaden, Director of Radio who earns £352,900 and Danny Cohen, Director of Television who is paid £327,800.
Andrew Bridgen MP – who would not be averse to the closure of fringe services – said the BBC should look at particular management posts and singled out James Purnell, the BBC’s Director of Strategy and Digital.
He said: ‘Purnell, a former Labour Minister... is on £295,000 a year. But who is the BBC competing with to get him? Who is offering him £290,000?’
Tory Nigel Adams, also on the committee, said he had no strong objections to the BBC or the licence fee but said there was no doubt the BBC could make further savings. ‘There is always scope for savings. No organisation I ever worked for in the public or private sector could not find money to save.’