BSkyB payout to Tony Ball raises questions

BSkyB supremo Tony Ball (pictured) pocketed nearly £8 million in salary, bonuses and share sales last year, according to the company's annual report.
He received the haul despite the company's record losses of £1.2 billion and share prices being trimmed by a quarter.
BSkyB, however, are quick to point out that the company outperformed other organisations in their sector and the losses were largely due to a botched venture into German pay-TV rather than any long term malady. Indeed, financial experts expect that BSkyB will begin to generate a profit of as much as £3 billion this year.
The huge payout has caused raised eyebrows in the City, with questions being asked as to whether Ball's contract is in the interests of shareholders, and it is expected the agreement's details will be subjected to some degree of scrutiny from powerful investors.
BSkyB conceeded in their annual report that Ball's contract is "not entirely consistent" with accepted best practice, but maintain that in the highly competitive broadcasting industry a premium must be paid to hold on to the best executives, and Tony Ball is one of the most respected in the world.
(GB)