Many people struggling to live on casual work paying less than fifteen dollars an hour envy the stars on our television screens who make more in an hour than they do in a complete working year. That is part of the celebrity world in which we live. A very few rise to the top of the pack and bask in public adulation - and the rest of the herd provides the support that maintains their lifestyle.
Channel 9 star Lisa Wilkinson has grabbed newspaper headlines with a refusal to agree with her bosses and sign a new contract. The reason will draw support from the feminist movement because she is demanding equal pay with her male co-host of the top rating " Today " show. The earnings of both these media stars are a closely kept secret, but Nine seems to think that Karl Stefanovic shines a shade brighter - and consequently earns a higher figure.
It is rumoured that Lisa Wilkinson has demanded a salary of two million dollars a year and Channel Nine would have to cut nine producers jobs to meet that figure. As a consequence of that refusal, Wilkinson dropped a bombshell when she went on air to announce that she was leaving the network - and would soon be joining rival Channel Ten.
That certainly has industry tongues wagging. For many years Channel Ten was the laggard in the three network competition for audiences and was recently placed in receivership. It seemed likely to become part of Rupert Murdocks media empire until at the last minute US television giant CBS swooped in with an offer and wrapped up the deal.
Lisa Wilkinson is fifty-seven years old and shows no sign of losing her audience attraction. She has a huge audience following and it is likely that many will follow her to whatever show she heads with the Ten network. Quite obviously, Nine will select a new face to replace her and the vast resources of that network will be tasked with making that person appealing and retaining the Nine audience. In television, everything lives or dies with the rating results.
Usually, when television stars jump ship it is between the two top running networks - Nine and Seven - and this move to lowly Ten could be a strategic master stroke. When it comes to financial backing, CBS completely outguns both Nine and Seven and is the source of many top rating shows already on Australian television. The television world is waiting with trepidation to discover what plans CBS have for their entry into this country.
Ordinary people envy movie stars and sporting people in the public limelight who are classed as " Celebrities " and automatically invited to public events. They earn big money, but they pay a price for that fame. Their personal privacy disappears. They are stalked by paparazzi and often completely false claims are made in sensational magazine stories with the intent of increasing retail sales. They are regarded as " public property " by many low grade journalists looking to make a fast buck.
There is also a physical danger. Besotted fans and people with mental impairment can be dangerous, as the death of John Lennon illustrated, and the bigger the star - the greater the danger. That appearance in the limelight on a television screen is usually preceded by an early arrival at the studio and hours of presentation procedure by a trained staff. Those network employers demand high performance standards for the big money they pay.
Lisa Wilkinson has made an interesting decision. Australian audiences will follow the outcome with interest !
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