By Don “Spider” Willis
I was recently looking at the salaries of television anchors, late-night talk show hosts and others in mainstream television. The salaries resemble those of professional athletes, with huge bonuses and incentives, and the build up for the next contract before the ink is dry on the current one.
“Why not roam the sideline and see old friends without getting injured?” said Tony Siragusa who last played for the
Baltimore Ravens before becoming a sideline analyst for FOX Sports. He earns more than $400,000 a year, a good salary for a former football player who brings persona and insights to NFL games.
What’s trending on the Internet is Today show host Matt Lauer, who recently renewed his contract for $17 million per year? Wow! What a contract for a guy who is on your TV set each morning for two hours or 83 minutes if you count the commercials. Mr. Lauer’s daily salary comes out to $141,000 a day and that’s without meal per diem.
Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison signed a six-year, $51 million contract with some clauses that will never be attain because the incentives are made up of “Monopoly” money. It will be restricted a least twice before it expires.
The NFL stands for “No Financial Leverage” because there are no guaranteed contracts for a very violent game.
These guys are the superstars in their profession and generate dollars for corporations and shareholders.
Performance on the field is almost always used to identify athletes’ salaries. Mainstream sports media, however, is only concerned about the issues of the player and why did he just sign this astronomical contract only to prove to be a disappointment to the team. Or, that he only plays during his contract year. I agree with those comments, but let’s not throw rocks in a glass house when it comes to those with huge contract too.
Do the media gurus ever survey why David Letterman is making $20 million a year? Letterman isn’t funny at times. He should take a pay cut, find some new material or get traded to another network.
Where are the critics when Conan O’Brien’s show is worse than before? Why isn’t he reimbursing the advertisers for his low ratings? I now understand why TV executives do not want to give Regis Philbin a new contract at 79 years old. Even though his ratings are good, advertisers are committed to attracting the 20- to 42-age group.
So the next time you hear a late-night talk show host joke that a professional athlete is overpaid, have him to look at their own salary.
You can listen to Donald “Spider” Willis on Sport talk with Spider each Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. CST on fishbowlradionetwork.com. For suggestion and topics call 469-335-6668 or email dwillisdw@yahoo.com
Received via email on September 29, 2011
Hi Don,
Read your column on salaries for TV folks and athletes. In Matt’s case in particular, yes, that’s a lot of $$$ for a co-host. A ton. But, consider it in perspective of how much the “Today” show makes every year. I know in the 90s it exceeded $250 million. A morning show making more than a quarter billion dollars. It’s still number 1. The show is an American mainstay. Almost household. Matt’s a large part of that. I worked with Matt at NBC’s NY flagship WNBC right after the station hired him. He had been out of TV and was painting houses. When he substituted for Bryant Gumbel on “Today,” the ratings not only stayed steady, they actually surpassed Bryant’s and the network recognized that and seized on it. The nature of the business and business in general. I don’t think at this stage NBC wants to risk it without Matt. Matt’s not just likable on the tube; he is in person. And for journalism purists, he’s an extraordinary interviewer which is critically important with all the nonsense coming through the tube.
Thanks
peace
Michael Hill
Former WFAA & KTVT news anchor and reporter
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