BBC/ GETTY BBC director-general Tony Hall has to find £800m worth of savings

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The review of salaries of the corporation’s news division shows journalists enjoy salaries of up to £49,000 compared to an average of £35,000 for ITN and Sky News journalists. The pay of around 3,000 news staff was compared to journalists at rivals Sky News, ITV, ITN, Channel 4, the Guardian, Reuters, The Times and The Sun. Median pay for around 1,125 BBC senior broadcast journalists, which includes junior reporters and producers, is £49,000 compared to an average of £35,000 in similar roles in the private sector. The review, carried out by financial consultants PwC and leaked to the Daily Telegraph, found the 7,000-strong news team enjoy salaries “higher than the market median”.

PwC believes the BBC total cash starting point is higher than the market median PwC

Some 1,781 staff, mainly researchers and junior producers, are paid 34 per cent more than their commercial rivals taking home an average of £37,500 compared to £28,000. But staff at editor level are paid around 20 per cent less than those in the commercial sector. It comes as BBC director-general Tony Hall considers plan to cut top-up allowances, a perk which allows staff to take home an extra 20 per cent on top of their salaries for working unpredictable hours.

The allowances have been branded “absurd” by commercial rivals with the review warning that competitors “use no allowances for flexibilities”. Instead, “in the market, flexibility, anti-social hours, on-call rotas, language (or other specific skills) are all recognised through base pay.” But even without the generous top-up BBC journalists are still taking home more than than their rivals.

GETTY The pay of around 3,000 news staff was compared to journalists at commercial rivals

The report said: “BBC staff who have long tenure and have benefited from collectively bargained pay increases explains some of the variation when compared to the market but PwC believes the BBC total cash starting point is higher than the market median.” BBC chiefs are due to meet with broadcasting unions next month to discuss cutting allowances as Lord Hall must find £800million worth of savings across the Beeb after being ordered to pay the cost of free TV licences for the over-75s. John Whittingdale, the former Culture Secretary, said: “The BBC’s news coverage is incredibly important, but at a time when the BBC is under severe financial pressure and is having to make reductions in its programming budgets, it does seem surprising that its pay bill is out of line with the commercial sector like this.”

BBC Median pay for around 1,125 BBC senior broadcast journalists is £49,000

But unions have warned any attempts to cut the pay of existing staff could lead to strikes. The corporation has come under fire for how it uses its news team after admitting to ‘doubling up’ on staff sent to cover stories abroad. Jonathan Munro, the BBC’s head of newsgathering, told staff earlier this year that the “the sheer numbers we deploy on events” needs to be reconsidered after 17 reporters were sent to cover one Brussels summit. Mr Munro said: “It’s hard to argue that they were all generating distinctive content – it was a summit after all, taking place in one building, over a few hours; not a few days.” From next year Lord Hall has agreed to name stars earning more than his £450,000 salary as the corporation attempts to improve transparency over how the licence fee is spent.

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John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “We are constantly told that more transparency and the publication of salaries will lead to a drain of talent at the BBC but that seems highly unlikely given that commercial rivals simply wouldn't be willing to pay so much more than the market rate. “The BBC provides a valuable service but it absolutely shouldn't be using licence fee payers' cash to fend off competitors by paying over the odds for journalistic talent. The BBC is always going to have a finite budget and it needs to come to terms with its financial reality if is going to provide value for money for licence fee payers.” Social media users expressed their anger at the pay. Peter Thompson said: “This milking of the taxpayer must stop. Commercial rates should be the maximum payable and only for the very best.” @k3books said: “State run #BBC News Channel. Their NEWS dolls get 40% more pay than Commercial TV news dolls. #BBC still wasting tax payers money.” @sheepbiyharvey said: “I love the BBC, but there is no reason to pay 'talent' so much. Beeb should be creating new stars and content.”

State run #BBC News Channel >

Their NEWS dolls get 40% more pay than Commercia TVl news dolls#BBC still wasting tax payers money — K3 (@k3books) September 21, 2016

@anaglyph32 @TelegraphNews I love the BBC, but there is no reason to pay 'talent' so much. Beeb should be creating new stars and content — sheepboyharvey (@sheepboyharvey) September 21, 2016