The former director of the BBC World Service urges taking action to keep the service strong against competition from other countries

Landor spoke at an event emphasizing the importance of the BBC World Service and said they must not be surpassed by better-funded competitors.

Outgoing director of the BBC World Service Liliane Landor warned that the service might lag behind as Russia and China heavily finance their global media projects, and called for the preservation of its capability and relevance.

According to Press Gazette, Landor spoke at an event highlighting the role of the BBC World Service and said they must not be surpassed by better-funded competitors.

Landor, who will step down in July, revealed that 72 percent of the World Service’s audience come from regions with little media freedom, which puts immense pressure on journalists working under tough conditions. Despite its wide outreach, the service is at risk of potential funding cuts.

The BBC World Service, historically funded by the UK Foreign Office, is now primarily financed through the license fee. With a current budget of £352 million, Landor called for a sustainable funding model so the broadcaster could maintain its position as a strong, independent, and strategically clear international competitor.

She continued: “The challenge for me, for us, is how to remain present on the ground and relevant for our audiences amongst fierce competition from state actors like Russia and China [who are] investing heavily in Africa, in Asia, in the Caribbean, in the Middle East, in old and new Media… We need to compete. And in order to compete, we need resources, and we need to remain relevant.”

Press Gazette pointed out that Landor’s comments align with concerns raised in March at a Royal Television Society event by BBC director-general Tim Davie, who criticized a financial strategy that risks one of the UK’s key soft power tools.

Davie said: “We cannot keep asking UK Licence Fee payers to invest in [the World Service] when we face cuts to UK services.”

He added: “Russia and China are investing hard, and not properly funding one of the UK’s most valuable soft power assets makes no sense economically or culturally.”