Broadcasting / BBC and national TV
Rates are highest for Group A - network television - and get progressively lower down to Group D - local radio.
Most rates here are minima specified in an NUJ agreement with the BBC, which will serve as a guide to rates for other broadcasters. In the Independent Television sector, Channel 5 pays least well among terrestrial channels and satellite and cable stations are, similarly, at the low end.
Rates that are * starred, such as those for expert interviewees (pundits) and production shifts are not part of the agreement but are "going rates".
The agreement also specifies Group F rates, covering use of words on broadcasters' websites.
The suggested rates
Read me first! Broadcasting / BBC and national TV: advice
See also: notes on negotiating rates for this work
See also: reported rates, to compare: Broadcasting / BBC and national TV
Know a better rate? Tell us!
Please note that the suggested rates below are minima; that rates for copyright works are for limited licences; and that VAT is not included.
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RATES: A: Network television BBC and national TV category: see glossary! |
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All but one of these rates are set down in a house agreement between the NUJ and the BBC, which was due to run until 31 July 2020 but is extended due to covid-19. The exception is the * starred rate which is based on freelance reports. The terms of art for kinds of work in national TV are explained in the glossary. |
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| Supplied video, up to 8 seconds, not less than * |  |
307.00 |
| Day rate, reporting or producing, buyout | |
273.00 |
| Daily buyout (Fixing or producing for non-on-air/non-website work) | |
170.00 |
| Track | |
89.00 |
| Phono up to 4 min | |
69.00 |
| Phono over 4 min | |
97.00 |
| TV Live / DTL (Down the Line) plus guest/donut | |
108.00 |
| TV Live / DTL (Down the Line) off base with correspondent solo set up | |
100.00 |
| TV Live / DTL (Down the Line) at bureau/fixed point or with producer/camera support | |
81.00 |
| Track and PTC (Piece To Camera) | |
121.00 |
| Track and PTC and rushes | |
193.00 |
| Action Rant/Show & tell with interview | |
181.00 |
| Self-shot PTC | |
162.00 |
| Action Rant/Show & tell with own equipment | |
157.00 |
| Action Rant/Show & tell without own equipment | |
132.00 |
| Rushes | |
90.00 |
| Dynamic Junction (channel promos) commissioned specifically, not when already filming | |
47.00 |
| Set up fee for lives away from base/home ADD | |
22.00 |
| Interview: assumes half day shoot and half day edit | |
230.00 |
| Feature (2min30 - 3min), commissioned NFU, WNA, etc., shot and edited on own equipment | |
1452.00 |
| Feature (2min30 - 3min), commissioned as above, shot on own equipment | |
1111.00 |
| Feature (2min30 - 3min), commissioned as above, edited (not shot) on own equipment | |
727.00 |
| Feature (2min30 - 3min), commissioned NFU, WNA, etc. | |
559.00 |
| Long feature (4min - 6min) commissioned NFU, WNA, On Demand etc, incl. 2min30 cut down | |
839.00 |
| Newsnight feature, 8min - 10min, incl. 2min30 cut down | |
1129.00 |
| Self-shot, self-authored edited piece without track | |
1452.00 |
| News piece 1min45 - 2min, shot & edited on own equipment | |
591.00 |
| News piece 1min45 - 2min, self-shot but not edited | |
395.00 |
| News piece 1min45 - 2min, edited | |
299.00 |
| Feature (2min30 - 3min), commissioned as above, shot and edited with BBC equipment | |
890.00 |
| Live TV commentary (out of vision) up to 4 mins | |
77.00 |
| Live TV commentary (out of vision) over 4 mins | |
98.00 |
Notes:
- The rates quoted above for shifts are going rates for 7 hours' work (8 hours with a break). Obviously charge more - at least pro rata - if you agree to work a longer shift.
- Freelances should remember that if they are paid to work a shift they are entitled to paid time off on top - see Shift payments: tax and time off
- Travel day and rates for features are negotiable at time of commissioning
- Reworking or reversioning a TV or radio package or feature is negotiable with commissioning programme/desk
- See also the notes for rates category B
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RATES: B: Network radio and World Service news BBC and national TV category: see glossary! |
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Most of these rates are set down in a house agreement between the NUJ and the BBC, which was due to run until 31 July 2020 but is extended due to covid-19. The exceptions are the * starred rates which are based on freelance reports. The terms of art for kinds of work in national TV are explained in the glossary. |
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| Reporting day * | |
142.50 |
| Reporting half-day (minimum shift) * | |
72.00 |
| Production - night-shift (eg 22.00 - 06.00) add * | |
69.00 |
| Radio features, minimum fee | |
334.00 |
| Radio features, per minute * | |
50.30 |
| Talks - script & read, minimum fee * | |
52.50 |
| Talks - script & read, per minute * | |
26.25 |
| Talks - script only, minimum fee * | |
40.70 |
| Talks - script only, per minute * | |
20.35 |
| Straight piece/despatch researched and reported incl Generic Minute, up to 2 min | |
77.00 |
| Two-way / live top & tail, up to 4 min | |
69.00 |
| Two-way / live top & tail, over 4 min | |
98.00 |
| Straight piece/despatch researched and reported incl Generic Minute, over 2 min | |
91.00 |
| Recorded interview with Guests or Commentary or Rant (as live), up to 5 min | |
132.00 |
| Recorded interview with Guests or Commentary or Rant (as live), over 5 min | |
171.00 |
| Press Review | |
120.00 |
| Actuality / vox pop, not already included in another item, specifically requested by Desk | |
61.00 |
| Newscopy (without Generic Minute) | |
24.00 |
| Illustrated Despatch (with 1-2 clips), up to 2 min | |
108.00 |
| Short package/wrap (eg on the day, multiple voices and fx), over 2 min | |
186.00 |
| Long Feature (8 mins) for Analysis (WS Radio) | |
677.00 |
| Longer mixed packages for Business Daily and other sequence programmes (when commissioned at around 6 minutes) | |
424.00 |
| Feature, researched reported and edited | |
335.00 |
| Expert guest (pundit) (up to 30 min on-air) aim for * | |
200.00 |
| Expert guest (pundit) (between 4 and 6 min on-air) aim for * | |
164.00 |
| Expert guest (pundit) for news programmes (up to 4 min on-air) aim for * | |
92.00 |
| Expert guest (pundit) for discussion programmes (3-4 min on-air) * | |
87.00 |
| Disturbance fee for appearing on early or late programmes (before 8 am and after 8 pm) * | |
32.00 |
| Live donut with guest(s) incl contributors, corr 2-way, links, actuality etc | |
108.00 |
| FOOC (From Our Own Correspondent) | |
157.00 |
| Meet and greet guests add expenses, anti-social hours uplift and a minimum of | |
32.00 |
Notes:
- The rates quoted above for packages are exclusive of expenses and research.
- Increase the fee pro rata for packages longer than 7 minutes.
- Some programmes pay considerably more than the fees quoted above. Twice as much is not uncommon. Talk to other freelances and negotiate.
- Do not underestimate the time taken to research the package. It is usually possible to negotiate a multiple of the day rate - anything between 1 day and 2-3 days, depending on the complexity of the work.
- Be clear about what the freelance is being commissioned to produce. Not all producers and programmes want the same from freelances. Some programmes demand that material is submitted fully edited, while others expect to edit the final package themselves.
- Experienced broadcasters favour a daily or shift rate as this best reflects the amount of work done.
- Major reworking of a radio despatch "will bring a separate payment when authorised by WDE", it says in the BBC house agreement. Who they?
- Freelances should remember that if they are paid to work a shift they are entitled to paid time off on top - see Shift payments: tax and time off.
- Claim expenses including a taxi to and from the studio for guest appearances.
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RATES: C: Regional and the nations TV BBC and national TV category: see glossary! |
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Freelances should negotiate starting from these figures - having checked local conditions with the Mother or Father of the NUJ Chapel; the Broadcasting Office will supply contact details to NUJ members. These rates are * starred because they are not listed in the BBC House Agreement documents the editor has. We do believe, however, that it is agreed that freelances working for the London regional operations get a 13.9 per cent uplift compared to what they'd have in other regions. |
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| Production - day rate, experienced * | |
240.00 |
| Producer / Director day - experienced * | |
230.00 |
| Assistant producer day - experienced * | |
186.00 |
| Researching - day rate * | |
171.00 |
| Production - day rate, minimum * | |
140.00 |
| Junior researcher day - minimum * | |
80.00 |
| Guest or expert appearances (3-4 min on-air) * | |
64.00 |
| Disturbance fee for appearing on early or late programmes * | |
32.00 |
Notes:
- Freelances should remember that if they are paid to work a shift they are entitled to paid time off on top - see Shift payments: tax and time off
- Some station managers will insist that shift workers are paid as "casual staff" with tax and National Insurance deducted "at source"
- The rates quoted above for shifts are going rates for 7 hours' work (8 hours with a break). Obviously charge more - at least pro rata - if you agree to work a longer shift
- Expert guests should negotiate a pro rata increase in fees for anything over 4 minutes on air.
- Claim expenses including a taxi to and from the studio for guest appearances
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RATES: D: Local radio and the nations radio BBC and national TV category: see glossary! |
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These rates are * starred because they are not listed in the BBC House Agreement documents the editor has. Use them as a starting point for negotiation... and remember that if the region you're working in is London, you should get a 13.9 per cent uplift compared to other regional rates. |
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| Reporting/production - day rate (more experienced broadcasters) * | |
210.00 |
| Reporting/production - day rate (beginners with some experience) * | |
140.00 |
| Reporting/production - day rate (novices straight from college) * | |
101.00 |
| Guest or expert appearances (3-4 min on-air) * | |
64.00 |
| Disturbance fee for appearing on early or late programmes * | |
32.00 |
Notes:
- Remember that if you are paid to work a shift you are entitled to paid time off on top - see Shift payments: tax and time off.
- Some station managers will insist that shift workers are paid as "casual staff" with tax and National Insurance deducted.
- Some local stations will be reluctant to pay any fee for an expert being interviewed.
Photography / Broadcasting rates for use on airBrowse a selection of NUJ freelances with relevant skills through the Freelance Directory:
Broadcaster On negotiating for broadcasting / bbc and national tv BECTU/PACT production agreement independents - no longer specifies rates
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Rates for the Job good, bad and ugly Join the NUJ to get individual advice & representationText © Mike Holderness & previous contributors; Moral rights asserted. The collection (database right) © National Union of Journalists. Comments to ffg@londonfreelance.org please. You may find the glossary helpful.
The National Union of Journalists must not, can not and would not wish to dictate rates or terms of engagement to members or to editors. The information presented here is for guidance and as an aid to equitable negotiation only.
Suggestions apply to contracts governed by UK law only. In any event, nothing here should be construed as legal advice.
