The debate about equal pay for the same work has now also reached the commentators’ booth: Martina Navratilova is taking the BBC to court.
Martina Navratilova has an opinion – and the legendary American is not afraid to make it known. Especially when it comes to equality between women and men. To be more precise: equal pay. And it is precisely at this point that Navratilova, born in the former Czechoslovakia, has now told the TV station BBC Panorama a great deal. This is about her work as an expert for the BBC, which traditionally broadcasts the tournament in Wimbledon.
A job that Navratilova shares, so to speak, with John McEnroe, even if the New Yorker romps around on several channels. McEnroe, however, seems to have negotiated his contract much better than Martina Navratilova’s.
“It’s hard to compare, of course, because some people work more hours a day, maybe one or two more shows,” says Navratilova, “but generally speaking, it was a shock to me that John McEnroe earned 150,000 pounds,” she herself would only get 15,000 pounds to compensate for her services, “If John McEnroe didn’t do many more things outside for Wimbledon. After Navratilova had been promised that she would get the same as McEnroe.
That this is not the case was indirectly confirmed by a BBC spokesperson: “Together with Sue Barker John is the face of our Wimbledon broadcasts. He is generally regarded as the best expert and commentator in our sport. John is appreciated by our viewers, and his contract states that he cannot work for another British TV station other than ours without permission. His pay reflects this – his gender is irrelevant.”