BBC Scotland has shelled out almost £200,000 to pay for taxis over the last year.
New figures have revealed the corporation is spending more than £530 every day on cabs for staff journeys and to 'courier' items.
Bosses at the broadcaster's Glasgow HQ said taxi costs were inevitable in order to provide coverage for television, radio and online.
Cabs were used to transport staff to locations and to get them to and from the HQ when working early or late in the evening. Tapes and other goods "of a sensitive or urgent nature" are also transported by cab.
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The total taxi bill for BBC Scotland, which receives £220 million a year in funding, was £194,971 for 2017/18 - slightly down on the previous year's figure of £228,100.
The true cost will be much higher but bosses refused to reveal the taxi bill for ferrying celebrity guests and programme contributors to and from the studios.
They said it was exempt from disclosure under freedom of information laws because it was used for 'journalism, art and literature' purposes.
News and current affairs spent most with £58,570 being racked up over the 12 month period and £29,634 was paid out in cabs for BBC 'talent'.
The radio arm of BBC Scotland shelled out £27,318 on cabs while the sports department spent £13,623.
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The entertainment division spent £6,614, 'online, knowledge and learning' paid £6,817 while the 'business, finance and technology' team spent £1,846.
John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Hard-pressed licence fee payers will wonder how they racked up such an extraordinary bill.
"The rest of the public sector is clamping down on unnecessary taxis and the Corporation should be no different.
"The BBC has to start spending money more efficiently or sympathy for the outdated TV tax will continue to wane."
Shows made at the BBC's Pacific Quay base in Glasgow include Reporting Scotland, whose presenters include Jackie Bird, Cat Shearer and Sally Magnusson, and Sportscene, hosted by Jonathan Sutherland.
The BBC is set to launch its new £32 million Scottish digital channel on February 24.
A key aspect of the channel is its nightly 9pm news, an hour-long news show presented by Rebecca Curran and Martin Geisler.
A BBC spokesman said: "The BBC is a global broadcaster bringing news, documentaries and sport from around the world to audiences in the UK.
"Transport costs, including taxi costs, are, inevitably, incurred in maintaining and building this business.
"Whilst expenses are common across all major organisations, the BBC has a rigorous expenses policy and we are committed to reducing costs."
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