World
Service expansion will also include increased coverage in Middle East and North
Africa as rivals such as RT and al-Jazeera continue to grow
The
BBC is set to unveil proposals for a significant expansion of the BBC World
Service, including potentially a satellite TV service for Russian speakers
and a daily radio news programme for North Korea.
The
proposals, which will be announced by director general Tony
Hall on Monday, include beefing up
the BBC Arabic service to offer more regional content, with increased coverage
of north Africa and the Middle East.
The
BBC argues that the expansion is about “democracy and the free press” at a time
which has seen the rise of big state-sponsored rivals, such as al-Jazeera and RT
(previously Russia Today), both of which now have UK
operations, and China Central Television.
“This
is about Britain’s place in the world,” said a BBC source. “It is above the
politics of the debates about the BBC’s future. It has to be a national
priority. Other news outlets are growing globally and many do not share our
traditions and values. We have a strong commitment to uphold global democracy
throughaccurate, impartial
and independent news. There should no longer be any no-go countries for the
World Service.”
The
proposals include looking at a satellite TV service for Russian speakers or
ramping up digital presence on YouTube or Rutube, the Russian equivalent, and TV
bulletins for neighbouring eastern European states. In addition, the corporation
intends to extend its digital and mobile offerings for the Indian and Nigerian
markets.
The BBC was forced to take on the £245m annual cost
of the World Service, which had been funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, from last year as part of the 2010 licence fee settlement with the
government.
In
an ironic twist, the BBC is to seek financial support from the government for
the expansion. The BBC will offer to match any increase in public funding for
the World Service if it can be allowed to more heavily-commercialise its Global
News operation outside the UK, which generates more than £100m in revenues
annually from sources including advertising and sponsorship.
Earlier
this year, the BBC published its Future
of News report, which warned the government that cuts to the World Service
would reduce the UK’s global “soft power” in the face of the growth of rivals
such as RT and al-Jazeera.
“The
World Service faces a choice between decline and growth,” the report said.
“If the UK wants the BBC to remain valued and respected, an ambassador of
Britain’s values and an agent of soft power in the world, then the BBC is going
to have to commit to growing the World Service and the government will have to
recognise this.”
(The Guardian)
