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A committee of Members of Parliament has expressed serious concern over the uncertainty surrounding government funding for the BBC World Service. This global broadcaster, reaching over 300 million people each week, receives about 30% of its budget from the government and is regarded as a key element of the UK’s soft power, according to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the committee, highlighted that despite the World Service’s importance, its influence is being weakened due to inadequate governance and shortsighted financial decisions. The existing funding arrangement between the government and the BBC expires at the end of this month, but no new agreement has yet been established. The committee emphasized its alarm that the BBC still lacks clarity on the government’s funding commitment for the upcoming year.
The BBC has called for the government to resume full responsibility for funding the World Service, a role it held until 2014. In response, the government acknowledged the high value placed on the World Service’s work and stated that funding decisions for the next financial year would be finalized before April. The PAC’s report cautioned that the World Service risks losing its standing as the most trusted international broadcaster because of ongoing financial challenges and management issues within the BBC.
Sir Geoffrey noted that the World Service must bolster its global presence rather than allow its reach to erode gradually. He pointed out that the broadcaster faces fierce competition from rivals based in countries like Russia and China, which invest billions in their international media efforts. The report also criticized the BBC’s reliance on short-term funding deals from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which hinder long-term planning and may force decisions based on immediate budget pressures rather than strategic value. Additionally, the committee found shortcomings in the BBC’s governance and digital transformation efforts, which have contributed to declining digital audiences. Despite these critiques, the report praised BBC staff who work under perilous conditions worldwide
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