Editing BBC World Service (section)

{{short description|International radio division of the BBC}}
{{For|the BBC television network that was previously known as BBC World News|BBC News (international TV channel)}}
{{redirect|World Service}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox broadcasting network
| name = BBC World Service
| logo = BBC World Service 2022 (Boxed).svg
| logo_size = 200px
| type = Radio  broadcasting [[news]], [[speech]], [[discussions]], [[public broadcaster]]
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2022
| established = 
| test of transmission = 
| airdate = 
| country = United Kingdom
| available = Worldwide
| founded = 
| founder = 
| motto = 
| market_share = 
| license_area = 
| headquarters = [[Broadcasting House]], London
| broadcast_area = Worldwide
| area = 
| erp = 
| owner = [[BBC]]
| parent = 
| key_people = [[Jonathan Munro]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Jonathan Munro appointed BBC News Global Director |url=https://www.ibc.org/news/jonathan-munro-appointed-bbc-news-global-director/11104.article |date=10 July 2024 |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=IBC365}}</ref>
| foundation = 
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1932|12|19}}
| dissolved = 
| former_names = {{Unbulletedlist |BBC Empire Service|BBC Overseas Service|External Services of the BBC}}
| digital = 
| servicename1 = 
| service1 = 
| servicename2 = 
| service2 = 
| servicename3 = 
| service3 = 
| servicename4 = 
| service4 = 
| callsigns = 
| callsign_meaning = 
| former_callsigns = 
| affiliation = 
| affiliates = 
| groups = 
| former_affiliations = 
| website = {{official URL}}
| webcast = [https://www.bbc.com/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service Web stream]
}}

The '''BBC World Service''' is a British [[Public broadcasting|public service broadcaster]]  owned and operated by the [[BBC]]. It is the world's largest external broadcaster in terms of reception area, language selection and audience reach.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmfaff/334/334.pdf |title= The Work of the BBC World Service 2008-09 |publisher=House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee |date=5 February 2010 |access-date= 16 February 2011 |archive-date= 21 October 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201021001645/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmfaff/334/334.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref> It broadcasts radio [[news]], [[speech]] and [[discussions]] in more than 40 languages<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/ws/languages|title=News in your language |website=BBC News |access-date=31 October 2019|archive-date=22 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522030650/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ws/languages|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Media-News-Company/bbcworldservice/about/|title=BBC World Service|website=Facebook |access-date=31 October 2019|archive-date=13 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213091024/https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Media-News-Company/bbcworldservice/about/|url-status=live}}</ref> to many parts of the world on [[Analogue signal|analogue]] and [[Shortwave listening|digital shortwave]] platforms, [[internet streaming]], [[podcasting]], [[Satellite radio|satellite]], [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]], [[FM broadcasting|FM]], [[Longwave|LW]] and [[Medium wave|MW]] relays. In 2024, the World Service reached an average of 450&nbsp;million people a week (via TV, radio and online).<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC's global audience holds firm despite increased competition |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/bbc-global-audience-measure |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

BBC World Service English maintains eight regional feeds with several programme variations, covering, respectively, [[East Africa|East]] and [[Southern Africa]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service East and Southern Africa - Schedules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p02y9rxx |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[West Africa|West]] and [[Central Africa]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service West and Central Africa - Schedules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p02y9s47 |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Europe]] and [[Middle East]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East - Schedules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p02y9rgr |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> the [[Americas]] and [[Caribbean]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean - Schedules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p02y9hr1 |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[East Asia]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service East Asia - Schedules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p02y9rvj |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[South Asia]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service South Asia - Schedules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p02y9rlv |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Australasia]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service Australasia - Schedules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p02y9px0 |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> and the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service UK DAB/Freeview - Schedules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p02zbmb3 |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> There are also two separate online-only streams, a general one<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service Online - Schedules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9p |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> and the other being more news-oriented, known as ''News Internet''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service News Internet - Schedules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p02y9sgt |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service English News - LyngSat |url=https://www.lyngsat.com/radiochannels/uk/BBC-World-Service-English-News.html |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=www.lyngsat.com}}</ref> The service broadcasts 24 hours a day.

The World Service states that its aim is to be "the world's best-known and most-respected voice in international broadcasting",<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/institutional/2009/06/090609_annual_review2009_aims.shtml|title=Annual Review 2008/2009|work=BBC News|access-date=8 April 2010|archive-date=2 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602035747/http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/institutional/2009/06/090609_annual_review2009_aims.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> while retaining a "balanced British view" of international developments.<ref name="BBC protocol">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/protocols/b4_bbcworldservice.txt|title=BBC protocol|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 December 2019|archive-date=22 July 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722205414/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/protocols/b4_bbcworldservice.txt|url-status=live}}</ref> Former director [[Peter Horrocks]] visualised the organisation as fighting an "[[information war]]" of [[soft power]] against Russian and Chinese international [[state media]], including [[RT (TV network)|RT]].<ref name=fac-20110517>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmfaff/1058/1058.pdf |title=The Implications of Cuts to the BBC World Service: Responses from the Government and the BBC to the Committee's Sixth Report of Session 2010–12 |id=HC 1058 |publisher=UK Parliament |work=Foreign Affairs Committee |date=17 May 2011 |access-date=26 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="The Broken BBC">{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Gavin |title=The Broken BBC |url=https://monthlyreview.org/2016/04/01/the-broken-bbc/ |website=The Monthly Review |date=April 2016 |access-date=17 February 2022 |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217085203/https://monthlyreview.org/2016/04/01/the-broken-bbc/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="The Guardian">{{cite web |last1=Halliday |first1=Josh |title=BBC World Service fears losing information war as Russia Today ramps up pressure |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/21/bbc-world-service-information-war-russia-today |work=The Guardian |access-date=17 February 2022 |date=December 21, 2014 |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217083806/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/21/bbc-world-service-information-war-russia-today |url-status=live }}</ref> As such, the BBC has been banned in both Russia and China, the former following its [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|2022 invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3121510/china-bans-bbc-world-news-saying-it-seriously-violated-chinese |website=South China Morning Post |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=3 April 2022|title=China bans BBC World News from broadcasting inside the country |date=12 February 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Russia blocks access to BBC and Voice of America websites |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/russia-restricts-access-bbc-russian-service-radio-liberty-ria-2022-03-04/ |website=Reuters |date=4 March 2022 |agency=Reuters |access-date=3 April 2022}}</ref>

The director of the BBC World Service is [[Jonathan Munro]]. The controller of the BBC World Service in English is Jon Zilkha.