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

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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!
All but one of these rates are set down in a house agreement between the NUJ and the BBC, effective from the beginning of 2024. (It was due to be updated on 31 July 2020 but was 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.
Supplied video, up to 8 seconds, not less than *		322.35
Day rate, reporting or producing, buyout		286.65
Daily buyout (Fixing or producing for non-on-air/non-website work)		178.50
Track		93.45
Phono up to 4 min		72.45
Phono over 4 min		101.85
TV Live / DTL (Down the Line) plus guest/donut		113.40
TV Live / DTL (Down the Line) off base with correspondent solo set up		105.00
TV Live / DTL (Down the Line) at bureau/fixed point or with producer/camera support		85.05
Track and PTC (Piece To Camera)		127.05
Track and PTC and rushes		202.65
Action Rant/Show & tell with interview		190.05
Self-shot PTC		170.10
Action Rant/Show & tell with own equipment		164.85
Action Rant/Show & tell without own equipment		138.60
Rushes		94.50
Dynamic Junction (channel promos) commissioned specifically, not when already filming		49.35
Set up fee for lives away from base/home ADD		23.10
Interview: assumes half day shoot and half day edit		241.50
Feature (2min30 - 3min), commissioned NFU, WNA, etc., shot and edited on own equipment		1524.60
Feature (2min30 - 3min), commissioned as above, shot on own equipment		1166.55
Feature (2min30 - 3min), commissioned as above, edited (not shot) on own equipment		934.50
Feature (2min30 - 3min), commissioned NFU, WNA, etc.		586.95
Long feature (4min - 6min) commissioned NFU, WNA, On Demand etc, incl. 2min30 cut down		880.95
Newsnight feature, 8min - 10min, incl. 2min30 cut down		1185.45
Self-shot, self-authored edited piece without track		1524.60
News piece 1min45 - 2min, shot & edited on own equipment		620.55
News piece 1min45 - 2min, self-shot but not edited		414.75
News piece 1min45 - 2min, edited		313.95
Feature (2min30 - 3min), commissioned as above, shot and edited with BBC equipment		763.35
Live TV commentary (out of vision) up to 4 mins		80.85
Live TV commentary (out of vision) over 4 mins		102.90

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

RATES: B: Network radio and World Service news BBC and national TV category: see glossary!
Most of these rates are set down in a house agreement between the NUJ and the BBC, effective from the beginning of 2024. (It was due to be updated on 31 July 2020 but was 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.
Reporting day *		149.63
Reporting half-day (minimum shift) *		75.60
Production - night-shift (eg 22.00 - 06.00) add *		72.45
Radio features, minimum fee		350.70
Radio features, per minute *		52.82
Talks - script & read, minimum fee *		55.13
Talks - script & read, per minute *		27.56
Talks - script only, minimum fee *		42.74
Talks - script only, per minute *		21.37
Straight piece/despatch researched and reported incl Generic Minute, up to 2 min		80.85
Two-way / live top & tail, up to 4 min		72.45
Two-way / live top & tail, over 4 min		102.90
Straight piece/despatch researched and reported incl Generic Minute, over 2 min		95.55
Recorded interview with Guests or Commentary or Rant (as live), up to 5 min		138.60
Recorded interview with Guests or Commentary or Rant (as live), over 5 min		179.55
Press Review		126.00
Actuality / vox pop, not already included in another item, specifically requested by Desk		64.05
Newscopy (without Generic Minute)		25.20
Illustrated Despatch (with 1-2 clips), up to 2 min		113.40
Short package/wrap (eg on the day, multiple voices and fx), over 2 min		195.30
Long Feature (8 mins) for Analysis (WS Radio)		710.85
Longer mixed packages for Business Daily and other sequence programmes (when commissioned at around 6 minutes)		445.20
Feature, researched reported and edited		351.75
Expert guest (pundit) (up to 30 min on-air) aim for *		210.00
Expert guest (pundit) (between 4 and 6 min on-air) aim for *		172.20
Expert guest (pundit) for news programmes (up to 4 min on-air) aim for *		96.60
Expert guest (pundit) for discussion programmes (3-4 min on-air) *		91.35
Disturbance fee for appearing on early or late programmes (before 8 am and after 8 pm) *		36.00
Live donut with guest(s) incl contributors, corr 2-way, links, actuality etc		113.40
FOOC (From Our Own Correspondent)		164.85
Meet and greet guests add expenses, anti-social hours uplift and a minimum of		33.60

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.

RATES: C: Regional and the nations TV BBC and national TV category: see glossary!
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.
Production - day rate, experienced *		252.00
Producer / Director day - experienced *		241.50
Assistant producer day - experienced *		195.30
Researching - day rate *		179.55
Production - day rate, minimum *		147.00
Junior researcher day - minimum *		84.00
Guest or expert appearances (3-4 min on-air) *		67.20
Guest or expert appearances (3-4 min on-air) *		67.20
Disturbance fee for appearing on early or late programmes *		36.00

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

RATES: D: Local radio and the nations radio BBC and national TV category: see glossary!
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.
Reporting/production - day rate (more experienced broadcasters) *		220.50
Reporting/production - day rate (beginners with some experience) *		147.00
Reporting/production - day rate (novices straight from college) *		106.05
Disturbance fee for appearing on early or late programmes *		36.00

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.

RATES: F: Agreed BBC News Online rates BBC and national TV
The following rates for BBC News Online form part of a house agreement between the NUJ and the BBC, effective from the beginning of 2024. (It was due to be updated on 31 July 2020 but was extended due to covid-19.)
Commissioned longform piece (usually over 1000 words)		351.75
News piece (copy, colour, instant analysis) up to 800 words - with photos		286.65
News piece (copy, colour, instant analysis) up to 800 words		205.80
Feature/analysis re-versioned script commissioned with photos		178.50
Feature/analysis re-versioned from a TV/radio script		95.55
Copy to Quickfire - max for 24 hour period		82.95
Text box		80.85
Copy to Quickfire (single: no payment for Tweets)		25.20

Photography / Broadcasting rates for use on air

Broadcasting / bbc and national tv: advice

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