Navratilova: You cannot be serious

The British Broadcasting Corporation has defended the pay discrepancy between Wimbledon broadcasters John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova.

McEnroe was paid between £150,000 (NZ$289,000) and £199,999 ($NZ385,000) for his efforts during Wimbledon in 2017, while Navratilova revealed she earned around £15,000 (NZ$29,000).

While Navratilova, the nine-time Wimbledon champion, said she was not happy at the ‘‘shocking’’ difference in pay, the BBC says it is a reflection of the work they do, not their genders.

In a statement sent out by the BBC Press Office, the BBC stated that McEnroe’s role was much larger than that of Navratilova.

‘‘Martina is one of a number of occasional contributors who is contracted to carry out a fixed volume of work and paid per appearance,’’ the BBC statement read.

‘‘The BBC believes her pay reflects what she is asked to do, her time commitment, her level of broadcast experience, profile and track record and expertise.’’

The broadcaster said McEnroe’s role was much more comprehensive.

They concluded their statement saying that McEnroe and Sue Barker lead their coverage, and that McEnroe’s ‘‘pay reflects all of this; gender isn’t a factor’’.

Navratilova said: ‘‘The bottom line is that male voices are valued more than women’s voices.

‘‘Unless John McEnroe’s doing a whole bunch of stuff outside of Wimbledon, he’s getting at least 10 times as much money.’’