The BBC and Public Broadcasting

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), founded in 1922, is the UK's national public service broadcaster. It is funded mainly by an annual licence fee paid by households that watch live television or use the BBC iPlayer. The current fee is set by the government but BBC editorial decisions are made independently. Its operations are governed by a Royal Charter, renewed every ten years or so.

Further reading: an editorial guide on this topic opens in a new window for additional context.

The BBC operates radio and television channels, the iPlayer streaming service, BBC Sounds, the BBC Online news website, and the BBC World Service. The Communications Act and Ofcom rules require all UK broadcasters — the BBC included — to report news with due impartiality, in contrast to the partisan nature of the print press.

You may be asked how the BBC is funded (the licence fee), or which year it was founded (1922).

Test yourself on this topic

These questions from the official-format question bank cover the same material. Tap any question to see the correct answer and a short explanation.

1. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is financed by selling advertising space during television programmes.
2. The BBC is financed by selling advertising space during television programmes
3. What does the TV licence money pay for?
4. By law, which TWO types of media have to give a balanced coverage of all political parties and equal time to rival viewpoints before an election?
5. When did the BBC start the first radio broadcast?
6. What did the Scottish John Logie Baird develop?

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