Wed, 28 Oct 2009 8:46a.m.
TVNZ boss Rick Ellis
TVNZ boss Rick Ellis' pay went up $110,000 last year to $830,000, the state broadcaster's annual report shows.
The report also revealed that 168 employees were earning more than $100,000 a year, and a reorganisation which the company went through included over 80 redundancies and cost $3.7 million.
The cut backs were announced in March as part of measures to save $25m following lower than anticipated advertising revenue.
Savings of $13.1m were made against budgeted costs for the year, which included savings from restructuring, and Ellis' increase was reported to have come mainly in the form of a bonus for a strong 2007/2008 year.
The figures showed TVNZ made a $2.1m after tax profit and declared a final dividend paid to the government of $1.47m.
Total revenue was $384.8m, which was 1.9 percent or $7.5m down on the previous year.
Advertising revenue was $298.4m, a $17.1m or 5.4 percent decline on the previous year.
TVNZ said the decline was less than other Australasian media companies suffered, buffered by gains made from screening the Beijing Olympics last August.
The report said TVNZ had increased its share of advertising by 2 percent taking business off competitors.
It also said there were significant improvements in ratings and Freeview had taken off, with about 16 percent of the market picking it up.
A table showing what staff were paid showed top salary bands of one person each on over $830,000; $580,000; $500,000.
There were three people on about $400,000, and six between $290,000 and $380,000.
In 2004, there was public outrage when it was revealed One News presenter Judy Bailey had negotiated a $800,000 salary with TVNZ.
NZPA
