THE executive chairman of Network Ten, Nick Falloon, has pocketed a 70 per cent pay increase for 2007-08, making him one of the highest paid media executives, as the broadcaster's earnings fell 25 per cent because of weaker ratings and a downturn in the advertising market.

Mr Falloon's pay jumped from $3.41 million to a total of $5.81 million in the year to August, boosted by a generous cash bonus from Ten's Canadian owner, CanWest, in relation to its attempt to sell the network last year. While his salary rose 5.5 per cent to $2.17 million, his bonus jumped from $525,000 to $2.2 million, Ten's latest annual report shows.

This puts the 51-year-old above Fairfax Media's boss, David Kirk, whose pay rose 24 per cent to $3.41 million, but below John Alexander of Consolidated Media Holdings who received $19.1 million, including a $15 million "redundancy payment" for PBL's demerger into media and gaming companies. Read more

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