Judy Bailey: I'm on a hiding to nothing

Embattled newsreader Judy Bailey defended her $800,000 salary last night as new details emerged about the real reason TVNZ offered her so much.

"It's the market," Bailey, 52, told the Herald on Sunday, responding to comparisons of her salary with the $1 million understood to be paid to Australian presenters of equal class. Speaking for the first time after her pay rise hit the headlines, Bailey said she could understand the outcry, and added: "I'm on a hiding to nothing".

Contrary to earlier claims Bailey was being head-hunted by other networks, the Government said the TVNZ board's approval of the huge salary hike was in response to an ultimatum from Bailey that she would quit if they didn't pay up.

Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey said the board understood from TVNZ management Bailey had threatened to leave if she "did not achieve her goal".

"That was what was conveyed to us (from the board), not any offer of an alternative job."

Bailey confirmed yesterday she had not been approached by TV3 or Prime, and said claims she had told TVNZ management as such had been "made-up". She also denied threatening to leave the job.

Industry sources and friends have confirmed Bailey has become increasingly unhappy with the way she has been treated. They said the offer of a 12-month contract after more than 30 years of service - 14 fronting the news - indicated management saw Bailey's on-screen days as numbered.

"Being offered a one-year contract means [management] are either not sure of the show or not sure of the talent," said one former industry executive.

"They've been treating her like shit," said another colleague, who said Bailey would be "hurting" over the affair. Another inside source said it was clear TVNZ wanted to keep Bailey in the job for a year while they groomed a successor.

While the Government has given the TVNZ board a warning to improve transparency after the Bailey case, there are calls for chief executive Ian Fraser and news boss Bill Ralston to take responsibility.

Industry experts generally agree Bailey was worth $800,000.

Former TVNZ news and current affairs boss Paul Cutler said Bailey could cut it with the best, while TVNZ chief executive Julian Mounter described her as "outstanding".

Ralston would not comment on whether 2005 would be Bailey's last year with the network, but said the veteran broadcaster was a valued asset without whom the network would have just "got by".

It is also understood board members were unhappy with the end result, but felt hamstrung by the information put before them.

With every ratings point worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to the network, the board felt the threat of losing their main draw-card in Bailey was worth paying an extra $300,000 for, a senior industry source said: "Their primary concern was not that she would go to someone else, but that she wouldn't be available to TVNZ."


 


- Herald on Sunday