Daily Express: Outrage as BBC could receive even more money to extend 'UK values'

Story from Daily Express:

The BBC might get even more money from the Government as the director-general Tim Davie warned that the service “needs help”.

An inquiry has been launched to see if the corporation needs more money to help project "UK’s values across the world”, reports GB News.

The BBC World Service has already been allocated over £100million in funding from the Foreign Office.

MPs on the House of Commons’ International Development Committee (IDC) have asked for evidence to establish what support should be given to the BBC.

A spokesperson from the committee said: “Given its impact on the UK’s development goals, and the projection of the UK’s values across the world, the International Development Committee is launching a short inquiry to establish the case for increased government support."

Part of the inquiry will seek to set out "what soft power advantages does the World Service provide for the UK and the projection of its values."

Last month, Davie informed a Royal Television Society crowd that the World Service would require more funding to maintain its current level of output.

The service delivers news, radio, and TV content to a worldwide audience of 318 million in 42 languages.

Its existing funding agreement with the Government mandates the BBC to sustain all language options despite financial challenges.

Nevertheless, this agreement expires in 2025, raising the prospect of service reductions unless additional funding is secured.

Davie said: "We cannot keep asking UK licence fee payers to invest in it when we face cuts to UK services.

“We will need to discuss a long-term funding solution for the World Service that comes from central government budgets.

“Even in the short term, we will need more help. Russia and China are investing hard, and not properly funding one of the UK’s most valuable soft power assets makes no sense economically or culturally."

The inquiry was announced after the BBC budget underwent several reductions. 15-Additionally, the increase in the licence fee charge was lower than anticipated, resulting in the broadcaster facing an additional £90million deficit on top of the £400million gap caused by the previous freeze on the licence fee.

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