BBC staff have reportedly expressed anger over a big-budget advert featuring comedian Romesh Ranganathan that encourages viewers to pay the TV licence fee, as the corporation faces job cuts and a below-inflation pay rise.
Staff Confront BBC Boss Over Ad Cost
According to Deadline, BBC director general Matt Brittin faced a barrage of questions during a town hall meeting on Monday (July 20). One employee reportedly said staff are treated like "second-rate citizens," while another asked: "How much did the Romesh advert cost the BBC at a time we're being told to both accept a 1% pay rise and be on constant alert that our job might be closed in the coming months?"
The four-minute advert, which aired during the World Cup final, features nearly 100 stars including Claudia Winkleman, Chris Martin and Louis Theroux. It promotes BBC shows such as Strictly, Doctor Who and EastEnders. Some viewers called the commercial "nauseating."
BBC Responds to Complaints
BBC's chief customer officer, Kerris Bright, addressed the complaints, saying: "It's a really fair challenge, and we're all facing those challenges. Marketing is facing the same challenges." She added: "I think we need to invest in telling [audiences] the value that we create and how we do it."
A BBC spokesperson declined to reveal how much Ranganathan was paid but confirmed he received a fee "due to the significant time commitment required during filming." They added that all cameo appearances were given for free, and creative development was done in-house with most people giving their time for free. The spokesperson said: "Like other broadcasters, we promote our services creatively to ensure audiences across the UK can get the best value from the BBC."
Ranganathan Defends BBC
The 48-year-old comedian also wrote an article for the BBC website, defending the broadcaster and the licence fee. He said: "I strongly, strongly believe that the BBC should exist. It's not without its flaws, and there have definitely been times and issues where I wished it could have dealt with things differently - but it adds so much to our lives, and I'm really proud of it."
The controversy comes after a report revealed that more than half a million people stopped paying their TV licence fee over the last 12 months. BBC staff are facing plans for a 1% pay rise and anxiety over 2,000 job layoffs.
