The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster with headquarters in London. It was originally established as the British Broadcasting Company in 1922 and became the BBC in 1927. The BBC operates under a royal charter and an agreement with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Financed primarily by annual television licensing fees, the BBC provides various national and regional TV and radio channels, plus digital services. The BBC is prohibited from running advertisements on its UK stations and must remain impartial in its coverage.
The BBC's leadership includes Rhodri Talfan Davies, who was confirmed as interim Director-General on January 28, 2026, following the resignation of Tim Davie. Davie's resignation in November 2025 followed controversy over the editing of a BBC documentary about Donald Trump. Samir Shah serves as chair until 2028. Deborah Turness is CEO for BBC News and Current Affairs until 2026. As a public service broadcaster, the BBC produces a wide array of content, including news, music, cultural programming, and services in English and other languages. It operates BBC Studios, which creates content like Strictly Come Dancing, Bluey, and Planet Earth III. The BBC also funds the BBC World Service, broadcasting in 28 languages.
