No cuts to BBC World Service - director UPDATED

The cut to its 2013/14 budget was announced today in a written ministerial statement from the Foreign Office (FCO) which currently funds the service.

Director of the World Service Peter Horrocks said: “This is the fourth ‘one-off’ funding cut in four years. The World Service is determined that this unexpected cut should not damage existing services to audiences so there will be no cuts to output nor reductions to staff or headcount as a result. But we will not be able to invest in new programmes and platforms as planned.”

The broadcaster will be funded out of the licence fee from April.

BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten said the FCO announcement was “disappointing” and “will inevitably involve some changes to our plans”.

He also announced a £5 million budget increase for the service from next year when funding passes to the licence fee.

He said: “When it comes under licence fee funding from April next year, the BBC Trust will be able to give the World Service a far greater degree of financial security, from which it can continue to provide its much-needed and valued services for audiences around the world.

“From 1 April 2014 the total budget for the World Service from the licence fee will be £245 million, an increase of over £5 million a year on the new level of grant now being provided from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.”

The operation lost an audience of around 14 million following Government cuts to its budget which resulted in five of its language services being dropped, and faced problems with jamming in Somalia and Syria.

Mr Horrocks said: “Today’s BBC Trust announcement of next year’s World Service budget confirms we will be better protected under the licence fee. International broadcasting is a business that needs long-term strategy and consistent funding support.”