C4's Cosgrove attacks TV salaries
- Published: 07 November 2008 17:14
- Author: Robin Parker
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- Last Updated: 07 November 2008 17:14
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Sheffield Doc/Fest: Channel 4 director of nations and regions Stuart Cosgrove has called for broadcasting salaries to be more clearly regulated – arguing that he is effectively overpaid when compared to the commercial marketplace.
In a debate on salaries at Sheffield Doc/Fest, Cosgrove said: "I find it hard to rationalise why I'm on more money than the first minister of [Scotland]."
"Commissioner's salaries are out of kilter with the money within the indie sector," he said.
"My salary is higher than it should be for the job I do."
He said that C4 faced the added tension of having to compete with other parts of the commercial sector. As an example, Cosgrove highlighted that the broadcaster had to pay its commercial director a salary comparable to that of one he could earn at a company such as Tesco.
Cohen defends BBC
BBC3 controller Danny Cohen defended BBC salaries saying that it had to compete for the best talent. He added: "If executives are doing a job that gives them a huge responsibility, such as managing thousands of people, they should be paid for that."
Silver River boss Daisy Goodwin said she was "amazed" that the BBC let talent get away with commanding such high salaries.
