BBC World Service faces funding cliff edge in seven weeks, says Tim Davie | The Guardian

BBC World Service faces an imminent funding crisis, with director general Tim Davie warning that it will run out of funding in seven weeks. Davie urges the government to secure a new deal for the service, highlighting the growing trust in state broadcasters from Russia and China. The World Service's £400m budget primarily comes from the licence fee, with the Foreign Office contributing £137m last year. Davie advocates for more taxpayer investment, given the defunding of US public media and cuts at leading outlets. The BBC's research shows its trust level remains stable at 78%, while trust in Russia Today and China Global Television Network has increased.