From Empire to World Service: An Introduction^*

Abstract

In this first full-length history of the BBC World Service, Johnston and Robertson argue that from the launch of the Empire Service in 1932 to the World Service of today, debates about the role of the BBC overseas broadcasting services have always involved deliberations about the future of the UK and its place in the world. To understand the history and trajectory of the BBC overseas broadcasting services, Johnston and Robertson discuss five interrelated themes: the relationship between overseas broadcasting and foreign policy; the constitutional position of the BBC and its status as a public service broadcaster; the composition of the BBC’s worldwide audiences; the impact of technological change; and the recognition that the BBC has agency in its own history.

^*Until 1988, the BBC Overseas Broadcasting Services were known as the ‘BBC External Services’. This included the BBC Overseas English-Language Service which from 1965 was called the ‘BBC World Service’. Prior to this, it was known as the General Overseas Service. In 1988, the title ‘BBC World Service’ was adopted for all of the BBC’s non-commercial Overseas Broadcasting Services, irrespective of language. We have employed the BBC’s terminology and made use of various generic titles, ‘external services’, ‘external broadcasting services’ and ‘overseas services’ where appropriate.