Government increases BBC World Service funding by £33m over three years

BBC News
March 18, 2026
3 min read

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The UK government is increasing BBC World Service funding by £33 million over three years, an 8% increase.

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The UK government is increasing funding for BBC World Service by £33 million over three years, representing an 8% boost from the previous financial year. The announcement comes as the BBC faces sustained pressure to demonstrate the value of its international broadcasting arm at a time of tight public finances. BBC World Service reaches an estimated 400 million people globally and is a key tool for British soft power and news distribution in regions where independent media is limited. The funding increase suggests the government views international broadcasting as a strategic priority despite broader scrutiny of BBC spending. The announcement will be formally made Thursday.

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