The World Service broadcasts in 42 languages, including English, reaching an estimated 320 million people globally each week. Most of the World Service’s global audience access the World Service in its local language.

BBC World Service is funded primarily from the UK licence fee alongside additional funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The recent Budget announcement included extra funds for the World Service, from the FCDO budget, but only for the financial year 2025-26.

BBC Director General Tim Davie has argued that funding for the World Service should be the responsibility of central Government, as it used to be before 2014.

The Committee’s inquiry will look at the services the World Service provides, how it is paid for, the challenges it faces operating around the world, and the pressures funding the World Service from the licence fee places on other BBC services.

The Committee will provide details of evidence sessions in due course.

The inquiry will run parallel to another inquiry on the World Service from the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said: “For nearly 100 years, the BBC World Service has been a hugely respected source of trusted journalism for millions and has played a key role in enhancing the UK’s global identity and influence on the world stage. With current funding pressures creating challenges for the BBC budget, the timing is right to examine how it can best be financed into the future, with a model that balances the Government’s objectives and value for money for the licence payer.”