The Conservative government published a draft new BBC charter on Thursday.
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Howls of protest were triggered from the BBC, especially the requirement to say the name of the stars who earn more than £150,000 per year.
After replacing John Whittingdale as United Kingdom culture secretary this summer, Matthew Hancock said in his first week in the job that fellow United Kingdom pubcaster Channel 4 could still be privatised, despite widespread reports that the government had decided not to go ahead with the proposed move.
The BBC has opposed detailed star pay disclosures, arguing this would give competitors a better idea how to poach top names.
Tony Hall, BBC Director-General, said discussions with ministers had produced the “right outcome” for the BBC.
Executives earning more than £150,000 are already named, and the BBC fears adding stars’ details to the list would make it harder to attract and retain talent.
However, unveiling the draft charter which builds on the controversial white paper that was announced back in May, Bradley argued that licence payers deserved to know where their money was going.
In addition to salary disclosure, the draft charter makes clear the BBC will appoint the majority – nine members – of its new board, while the government will appoint only five.
However it is thought that more than 100 individuals will be caught by the new lower threshold, including football presenter Gary Lineker and chat show host Graham Norton.
“The BBC is one of the UK’s most respected and valued institutions”.
“We had hoped to see a charter which invests in and nurtures the talent we have here and, above all, a BBC that finally catches up with the reality of devolution”. The BBC is in agreement with commercial broadcasters on this as they all believe this will effectively push up the wage bill for everyone.
Scrutiny of the BBC’s finances will now fall to the National Audit Office.
But BBC Trust chair Rona Fairhead slapped down the move, arguing it could discourage major stars from working with BBC channels.
But the “health check” will not threaten the BBC’s licence-fee funding.
“It is a significant new post, and transparency and fairness in making the appointment is vital, not least so that industry and the public have confidence”, Ms Bradley said.
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“Provision for the nations will be regulated by Ofcom through a new operating licence regime, which will include continuing the approach of production targets for making programmes outside of London”.
