The future of the BBC World Service could be determined by the outcome of a Government spending review, which could cut its funding.
- Nearly half of World Service funding could go.
- Respected source of news globally.
- Funding for World Service currently at a cost to UK viewers and listeners.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) could reduce or completely cut funding for the BBC World Service from as early as next spring. The future of the World Service is once again in doubt after the Government announced cuts in the foreign aid budget.
The FT recently reported BBC Director-General Tim Davie is being prepared to engage with Foreign Office officials about funding.
Any cuts to funding could be the final straw for the BBC’s international public service broadcasts. Commercial operations would not be impacted – the UK Government has for example, always refused to fund the BBC’s English language TV and online services outside of the UK.
The BBC World Service was recently described as the ‘jewel in Britain’s crown’ by Sarah Champion (Lab), chair of the International Development Committee. It is supported by many influential media and political figures, who are concerned that disinformation is filling the airwaves previously used by the BBC World Service. Foreign Secretary David Lammy (Lab) previously defended the BBC, emphasising its role as support UK soft power overseas. The World Service has built up a reputation of providing serious news coverage, avoiding the tabloid tone of some global news outlets.
Funding ping-pong
The BBC World Service was once fully funded by the Foreign Office. As part of the 2010 licence fee agreement imposed by the coalition Government of the time, licence fee payers began to shoulder the burden.
Later in the 2010s, the Government agreed to provide limited funding for the World Service. The bulk of the cost of running the BBC World Service is still carried by the licence fee payer. The current arrangements expire next March. The BBC World Service had only just benefitted from a boost in FCDO spending for 2025-26 to help keep the service on air.
Impact of cuts already clear
Listeners to the English language version of the World Service, will have noticed how the service has changed in recent years. The service’s range of programmes has been cut back and overall presentation has become plainer.
Various language services have also been cut back. Notably, in 2023, BBC Arabic surrendered its traditional broadcast frequencies, switching to online only thus reducing its presence in the Middle East.
Well-funded Russian and Chinese broadcasters are often taking over the frequencies previously used by the World Service.
UK versus international
The ongoing licence fee funding of the World Service is controversial, because it’s forcing the BBC to decide between funding UK services or international broadcasts.
After the licence fee was frozen for two years in 2022, BBC management found themselves deciding between funding for domestic services like BBC Local Radio and global broadcasts from the BBC World Service. All services ultimately faced sharp cuts.
Some in the BBC believe the Government should take back control of World Service funding, something that seems unlikely in the current environment.
But if it did, the BBC would have hundreds of millions of pounds to reinvest in UK services if it chose to. According to the most recent BBC Annual Report, covering 2023-24, the BBC spent £233 million of licence fee money on the World Service. That’s on top of the FCDO grant money. Pre-pandemic, over £300 million was licence fee money was spent on the World Service.
Without Government funding, it’s unlikely the World Service would be able to continue. The rebrand of the English language feed of the World Service to ‘BBC News World Service’ highlights a possible future as a audio feed of the BBC News TV channel, following in the footsteps of GB News and Talk.
Funding for the BBC beyond 2027 is uncertain, with replacements for the licence fee under discussion.
By: Marc Thornham | Article updated 13/04/2025 with refreshed figures covering the cost of World Service.