Here is the statement regarding the "newly announced Government funding of the BBC World Service".

"Statement on newly announced Government funding of the World Service

"I warmly welcome today's announcement. It's fantastic news.

"This new funding is the single biggest increase in the World Service budget ever committed by any government.

"The millions announced today will help the BBC deliver on our commitment to uphold global democracy through accurate, impartial and independent news reporting.

"The World Service is one of the UK's most important cultural exports and one of our best sources of global influence. We can now further build on that. The funding will also help speed us on to our target of reaching half a billion people globally."

Enhanced TV services for Africa
New radio services for audiences in North Korea; radio and digital services for Ethiopia and Eritrea
Additional language offers via digital and TV in India and Nigeria
More regionalised content to better serve audiences to the BBC Arabic Service
Dedicated TV output for Somalia and a fully digital service for Thailand
Enhanced digital and TV services for Russian speakers, both in Russia and surrounding communities
A video-led digital transformation of Languages services
To expand the impact and future-proof World Service English"


Source BBC Media Centre.




From the BBC News site:-

"The government is to invest £85 million a year in enhancing BBC services around the world including in Russia, North Korea, the Middle East and Africa.

The money is to help "build the global reach of the World Service" to half a billion people and "increase access to news and information".

Director general Tony Hall said he "warmly welcomed" the announcement.

The government will provide £34m between 2016-17 and £85m a year from 2017-18 for digital, TV and radio.

"This new funding is the single biggest increase in the World Service budget ever committed by any government," said Lord Hall.

"The millions announced today will help the BBC deliver on our commitment to uphold global democracy through accurate, impartial and independent news reporting.

"The World Service is one of the UK's most important cultural exports and one of our best sources of global influence. We can now further build on that."

He added: "The funding will also help speed us on to our target of reaching half a billion people globally."

The BBC currently reaches 308 million people worldwide, and its goal is to reach 500 million people by 2022.

Announcing the new funding in its document the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review, the government said: "The BBC World Service reaches into some of the most remote places in the world, providing a link to the UK for individuals and societies who would otherwise not have this opportunity.

"We will invest £85 million each year by in the BBC's digital, TV and radio services around the world to build the global reach of the World Service and increase access to news and information."

The list of services to be expanded using the funding include enhanced TV services for Africa, new radio services for audiences in North Korea and radio and digital services for Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The BBC will also expand TV, radio and digital offerings in Somalia, India, Nigeria and Thailand.

It will also help boost digital and TV services for Russian speakers, both in Russia and the surrounding communities."

Tell me I'm wrong but I understood that World Service funding was changed in 2014 from Foreign & Commonwealth Office Grant In Aid to direct funding from the licence fee, BBC Worldwide profits, etc. Are HMG now starting to realise what a valuable asset for good it has in External Services and was its penny-pinching attitude to force down the size and influence of "the BBC" mistaken. Do FCO shirts & ties still stand behind the producers & editors of those services to blue pencil what can be said?