9 replies to this topic

[KernowCooper]

The BBC has paid Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson millions of pounds for his share in the company behind the show's international success.



Accounts published today by BBC Worldwide, the corporation's commercial arm, show it paid a total of £16.2 million to take control of the firm called Bedder 6.

The BBC already owned half the firm and the deal saw Clarkson, who had a 30 per cent share, collect more than £8 million while his colleague, Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman, picked up more than £5 million.

A spokesman for BBC Worldwide said: "No licence fee income was used by BBC Worldwide to pay the exiting shareholders of Bedder 6 in 2012.

"In just five years the business grew its profits five-fold (and its revenue to £149 million), which would not have been possible without the involvement of the show's creative talent.

"The deal also secured the future of the Top Gear brand for the BBC and BBC Worldwide and we now benefit from 100% of its profit stream."

BBC Worldwide reported a rise in its profits from £155 million to £156 million in the 12 months to the end of March.

It has made more than £1 billion for the corporation since its creation in 2007.

 

[adampat84]

Yeah bedder 6 i think is responsible for the spin off series Top Gear USA and the one in Germany, Australia etc..

 

Looks like Clarkson can afford to buy a decent car now... a mini! 

[ANON]

Wonder how much he will bung his bum boy Cameron in 'donations'??

[sledgehammer]

YAY - 1 billion for the BBC since 2007 - so the licence fee will come down -

 

oh no - all because of the unique way the BBC is funded (

[scaffers]

So that's the end of top gear then

[Cooperman]

Maybe it might become a programme about motoring again, rather than a rather repetitive comedy show  .

[sledgehammer]

I wish the first half was them larking about & their £xpensive cars & repetitive jokes

 

then the second half about normal cars - with a ban on £50,000 + cars - so I can start watching at 8:30

 

I'm not interested in a car that is dearer than my house , that I will never see - let alone drive

 

I do like the trek's in old bangers

 

Clarkson is funny - but has way to much control over the show

[AVV IT]

Maybe it might become a programme about motoring again, rather than a rather repetitive comedy show  .

I reckon that's highly unlikely, it's hardly going to continue making hundreds of millions if it looses it's mass appeal as a motoring themed entertainment show and reverts back to being a motoring consumer programme that basically only appeals to middle aged men.

[miniman24]

I for one love seeing the exotic cars that I have no hope of ever being able to afford, what they sound and feel like, the details on performance etc - makes for very entertaining TV for me, where else am I going to see these machines? And the show still makes me and my housemates laugh, I'm a huge fan of the show.

[mab01uk]

YAY - 1 billion for the BBC since 2007 - so the licence fee will come down -

 

oh no - all because of the unique way the BBC is funded (

 

The licence fee is also wasted on this........

BBC criticised for £25m severance bill for 150 managers

http://www.bbc.co.uk...t-arts-23125494

 

BBC Trust says £25m pay-offs for Corporation staff are a 'fundamental failure'

The report uncovered some extraordinary payments signed off by the BBC. In one case, a departing manager was given a package of £219,000 even though this was £141,000 more than he was entitled to. The payment included £49,000 to cover training and IT equipment in order to help the individual’s future career prospects. The BBC originally offered £30,000 but was persuaded to give the additional £19,000 to cover tax and national insurance.

In another example, the BBC agreed to hire one of its departing managers as a consultant on a daily rate of £1,000 and pay a minimum of £60,000 over two years. The individual additionally received £145,500 redundancy payment and a £66,000 contribution to their pension pot.

The Trust's criticisms were directed at the BBC’s former leadership – essentially that of the former Director General Mark Thompson and his senior executives - for failing to exert “adequate governance” over the payments. “This has resulted in decisions being taken which were poor value for money, undermine the culture of accountability that should exist in any publicly funded organisation and put public trust in the BBC at risk,” it said.

The findings are especially damning in the wake of the revelation that the BBC wasted £100m of licence fee payers’ money on its disastrous digital archive project, the Digital Media Initiative (DMI), which was axed in May and is now the subject of an inquiry by accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

http://www.independe...re-8681427.html