±«Óătv

±«Óătv Trust - Review of talent costs - terms of reference

Date: 16.11.2007     Last updated: 23.09.2014 at 09.48
Category: Value for money
This review provides an in-depth examination of the ±«Óătv's use of on-air and on-screen talent.

The ±«Óătv Trust has published the terms of reference for the study of talent costs to be conducted by the consultancy Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates.

This study is in addition to the value for money programme.

Terms of reference

One area in which particular concerns have been raised about value for money is the reported cost of on-screen and on air-talent.

The ±«Óătv Trust has commissioned the consultancy Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates to examine the interaction of the ±«Óătv with the market for on-screen and on-air talent. The overall goal of the study is to ensure that the Trust has a proper understanding of how the ±«Óătv operates in the talent market so that it can satisfy itself that the greatest value is being created for audiences.

Main questions

The study will consider the full range of ±«Óătv on-screen and on-air talent in all divisions including both top talent and those employed on standard ±«Óătv terms. The main questions to be addressed by the study are:

How do the size and structure of the ±«Óătv's reward packages for talent compare with the rest of the market?

What has been the impact of the ±«Óătv's policy on the talent market, particularly in relation to cost inflation?

To what extent do the ±«Óătv's policy and processes in relation to investment in, and reward of, talent support value for money?

Scope

The study will cover on-screen and on-air talent in all divisions of the ±«Óătv. It will focus on business processes and not the editorial strategy for individual commissions. Editorial decisions are not within the scope of this review.

The study

Where practicable, the study will compare the size and structure of the ±«Óătv's reward packages with those offered by other broadcasters. It will also examine whether there have been any significant changes in the ±«Óătv's policy towards the reward of talent in recent years in response to market changes such as the development of new platforms and the proliferation of channels.

The Trust wishes to understand the impact of the ±«Óătv's current policy towards investment in, and reward of, talent on the overall talent market. We expect the study to address a number of questions:

Ěý

  • What is the recent pattern of cost inflation across different segments of the overall talent market?
  • Is there any evidence that the ±«Óătv's talent investment and reward policy has led to inflation in any segments of the market, and if so, was it consistent with value for money?
  • How should the Trust measure the impact of the ±«Óătv's talent investment and reward policy on the market?

Ěý

We expect the study to address the following questions in relation to the value for money achieved by the ±«Óătv's talent investment and reward policy:

Ěý

  • How does the ±«Óătv's current system for negotiation and approval of reward packages for talent operate?
  • What processes and performance indicators are used to evaluate whether value for money is supported by these packages?
  • In what areas could value for money be improved, and how?
  • What performance indicators should the Trust examine to monitor the value for money achieved in this area?
  • How far does the ±«Óătv drive value for money in its decisions to develop new talent and use existing talent?

Ěý

It is the Trust's intention that the report will be published in spring 2008.