Clarkson to earn $36million over next 3 years?

[Tranquillizer]

ok
but why we should be bothered to know.

[Richmondgal]

Well good on him if he can get that money, but still, he doesn't really need that much does he?

[P8P]

I'm not sure that I like the way that this has been reported. If Hammond and May really didn't know, then the secrecy seems a little underhand. I'm not saying that Jeremy shouldn't take the lions share, but there's nothing like money to come between a friendship/working relationship (and this is a LOT of money). I just hope they don't get p'd off and this isn't the beginning of the end of Top Gear in it's current guise...

[Cobol74]

TG has enemies even in the BBC, 'chattering classes' mostly living in Islington and still hankering after the democratic (sic) peoples republic of Britain, new age travellers, Caravan Club, eco fascists etc.. They will take any opportunity to rock the TG boat IMHO.

[CallMeRyan]

What's the [sic] for - not needed there at all.

Anyhoo - JC must have a pretty chunky bank balance already, and I doubt he'd defect to anywhere, especially ITV. Also - people don't realise that BBC Worldwide profit cuts and wages aren't paid from the licence fee - JC is entitled to a big wodge of cash if they offer it to him.

[Posmo]

Originally Posted by aaurora

Woah...that's a lot of money, there Jezza. Good on him. In all honesty, James and Richard deserve a nice piece of that pie, too. They are just as much the Faces of Top Gear just like Jeremy.

You're right about the Top Gear bit, but JC has been on Television for, what? 15-20 years? Everyone knows him, which can't really be said for James and Richard, even though they have been getting more press lately aswell. Top Gear is not the only reason Clarkson is popular, and BBC might want him for some other projects aswell?

[Venturisection]

they are the brand the BBC makes money from the brand so i don't see why they shouldn't get paid an appropriate fee.

Supply and Demand. Bloody socialists.

[stuvik]

Originally Posted by upyourego

Yes Top Gear IS funded by the licence fee BUT it doesn't sound like this extra money is actually coming OUT of the licence fee - it actually reads that it will be coming from BBC Worldwide - and specifically the sale of TG products and licencing - so anyone that watches TG:US, TG:AU or even TG on an international network.

Anyone that buys a DVD, book or any other merchandising - it's the commercial stuff and to be honest, as Clarkson and Wilman pretty much made the show what it is I think they deserve a sizable cut of the profits from it.

I doubt this will impact on the money he gets from the licence fee for presenting Top Gear - that will most likely stay the same - BBC Worldwide is run as a separate company so he will likely be paid by them as a separate employer.

Oh and here is the usual response to 'why no box sets'? It's all about the music.



The BBC has a blanket deal across all of its broadcasting network (all national TV channels, national radio stations, local radio stations, regional tv and even online to some extent).

This means the BBC (almost without exception) can play ANY piece of music in any programme without having to go back to the original rights holders and ask permission or paying extra money.

However when it comes to putting together DVDs or even selling downloads (iPlayer comes under the terms of the deal) that blanket deal doesn't apply and so every track played without a problem when it went out on TV would have to be negotiated - on a one by one basis.

This is 1) expensive and 2) sometimes impossible as rights holders are known to refuse - especially more eco friendly musicians who don't like Top Gear.

I spoke to (and sorry I know I've posted this before at some point somewhere) the head of commissioning at 2|entertain (people responsible for all BBC DVDs) and he basically told me they had two options 1) Sell box sets of every series but with most of the music different to what went out on TV or 2) don't sell box sets but instead sell compilations and best bits that don't matter if the music is changed to much.

He felt, well after doing market research he felt, that the Top Gear fans most likely to buy a box set would NOT want any of the music changed, that they like it as is and so it would be better not to sell it at all than sell "an inferior product".

Oh and if they were to sell it it would probably be about £65 per series when it first came out - dropping to about £35 after a year or so (based on other box sets by the BBC).

The only way it would happen is if everyone decided they were happy to have it with a different sound track - maybe it's worth a thread of its own and a vote? (drag up an old thread?).

Ta upyourego,

Actually I was aware of this fact before making the comment. Wishful thinking has me hoping that they'll one day pull their finger out and realise that it would be worth the expense. 250+ million viewers worldwide I think was an estimate JC mentioned on the show once. I have a feeling they'd make their money back rather quickly.

Bloody music industry

[Mercury]

I saw 7x03 on BBC world lately and it was pure crap. I mean the scene where JC talks about super cars in general with that amazing bridge and the GT40 in the background is IMO the best scene in TG. It describes the madness that is super cars as best as it can be describes with words and in the original episode which I downloaded it has amazing music, on BBC world there was this bouncy jungle in the background and it had nothing to do with the feel of the whole thing. it blew donkey balls.

They need to fix this crap because if everyone outside the UK is getting that crap music they get a low grade TG and thats no good.....