BBC bosses given £1m in bonuses

However, the BBC did overtake ITV for the first time and, despite the increased competition from an array of cable channels, is performing well in its market. It also managed to spend more of its £2.5bn licence fee on programming, rising to 85% of its budget compared with 81% last time.

Dyke himself was awarded the biggest bonus, picking up £97,000 on top of his £357,000 salary. This at a time when Dyke has called for costs to be cut across the BBC.

Staff have been told to cut down on the use of taxis while biscuits for meetings and breakfast croissants have both been cut.

In May, the BBC said it had saved between £25m and £30m in administration cuts, which are being poured back into programme making, as well as 750 job cuts.

The details of the bonuses come in the BBC's annual report, which is due to be presented to MPs later today. Released to the Commons media select committee, for the first time it contains details of finances and findings of governors.

Other BBC directors to walk away with big bonuses include Alan Yentob, director of drama, entertainment and children, who was given a £58,000 bonus to take his total pay to £302,000. World Service boss Mark Byford was awarded a £17,000 pay rise on top of a £69,000 bonus, bringing his total BBC income to £294,000.

The bonuses are understood to have been awarded after the executives met performance targets.

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