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BBC World Service to be funded by licence fee

The licence fee will fund the BBC World Service as it survives the pain of the UK public sector cuts.

The service has previously been funded by the Foreign Office and will now be controlled by the BBC.

The BBC taking full control of the World Service will give it clear editorial independence from the Government but will open it up to the wider cuts process at the BBC.

As part of the deal, the BBC will take over funding of the Welsh language channel S4C.

The BBC World Service broadcasts in more than 30 languages including Urdu and Hindi.