The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is to hold a short inquiry into the
BBC World Service.
The World Service broadcasts in 42 languages, including English,
reaching an estimated 320 million people globally each week. Most
of the World Service's global audience access the World Service
in its local language.
BBC World Service is funded primarily from the UK licence fee
alongside additional funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office. The recent Budget announcement included extra
funds for the World Service, from the FCDO budget, but only for
the financial year 2025-26.
BBC Director General Tim Davie has argued that funding for the
World Service should be the responsibility of central Government,
as it used to be before 2014.
The Committee's inquiry will look at the services the World
Service provides, how it is paid for, the challenges it faces
operating around the world, and the pressures funding the World
Service from the licence fee places on other BBC services.
The Committee will provide details of evidence sessions in due
course.
The inquiry will run parallel to another inquiry on the World
Service from the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Dame MP, Chair of the Culture,
Media and Sport Committee, said:
“For nearly 100 years, the BBC World Service has been a hugely
respected source of trusted journalism for millions and has
played a key role in enhancing the UK's global identity and
influence on the world stage. With current funding pressures
creating challenges for the BBC budget, the timing is right to
examine how it can best be financed into the future, with a model
that balances the Government's objectives and value for money for
the licence payer.”
