<p><br /> The BBC "will lose established stars" as it goes through a series of massive cuts, Director General Mark Thompson has warned. The corporation's executives will not be exempt from the axe either with major job losses on the horizon.<br /> </p><p><br /> Speaking in Edinburgh, Mr Thompson said "top talent" pay will be reduced, adding: "Sometimes we will lose established stars as a result. When we do, we will replace them with new talent".<br /> </p><p><br /> The corporation recently lost two of its most high-profile stars, Christine Bleakley and Adrian Chiles, when they moved to ITV.<br /> </p><p><br /> A large part of the speech at the Edinburgh International Television Festival was made up of a robust defence of the corporation and broadcasting in general, with Mr Thompson hitting back at what he called "exaggerated claims about waste and inefficiency" aimed at the BBC.<br /> </p><p><br /> In the lecture, called The Battle for Quality, he cited public support for the BBC and referred to the 17 million people who tuned into BBC1 after the general election.<br /> </p><p><br /> He said: "There is still a very strong instinct in this country to come together through broadcasting to share great national moments."<br /> </p><p><br /> Mr Thompson praised Sky's "technical innovation" and "willingness to take big risks" but said it was time they invested more in "British talent".<br /> </p>
