Audiences in certain countries have access to an open media

In the specific countries Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, recent political and media changes have lessened the need for BBC language services as audiences in those countries also have access to open media.

We also propose to close our services in Kazakhstan and Thailand which had low impact for a number of reasons including their audiences' preference to access alternative BBC services (Russian language in Kazakhstan and English language in Thailand) and other local broadcasters.

The services targeted for closure are primarily those whose countries have joined the EU. Was the decision based on political pressure rather than audience focus?

The BBC does not make decisions based on political pressure.

The language services of countries who have recently, or will shortly, join the EU have made a significant contribution to the stability and maturity of those countries' media marketplace.

It is a testament to their contribution to those societies that we believe that the need for these services has decreased while audiences are now better served by their national and local media. This is a criterion also used in this region by other international broadcasters.

What we do to maintain news coverage in areas where BBC World Service is withdrawing its language services?

BBC World Service will continue to maintain a strong news gathering presence in these countries. Europe will remain a big story and the wider BBC has committed extra resources to ensuring that we still provide comprehensive coverage of all the issues.

The BBC Governors have asked for improvements in the BBC’s European coverage. How does this stand against your reduction of the European vernacular language services?

Our commitment to newsgathering and analysing the issues in the region is undiminished. The BBC has pledged extra resources to covering Europe which remains a big story.

We have already appointed Mark Mardell as our new Europe Editor to focus on the politics, policy and economics of Europe and the EU. We are also recruiting an additional Europe Institutions Editor to report on the EU decision making processes in Brussels and Strasbourg.

We will also retain an extensive stringer network. A special group has been set up in BBC World Service to look at the issue to ensure we maintain and build on our coverage of the region.

Where have you got a newsgathering presence in Europe?

We have permanent staff working in Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Belgrade, Madrid, Geneva/Berne, Vienna, The Hague, Warsaw, Sarajevo, Prague, Lisbon and Oslo.

A news bureau works out of Moscow, and we have freelance reporters working in the Ukraine, Georgia (covering Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan), Kazakhstan (covering central Asian countries of Tajikstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan) and Riga (covering Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia).

Will a language Service re-open next year if more money is found? Or is it closed for ever?

We have not taken these decisions lightly. We have worked hard to research and understand the markets in which we operate and it is very unlikely that this decision will change in the foreseeable future. However any unexpected geopolitical developments may result in reappraisal.

Is the Romania Service next if Romania joins the EU?

EU accession is not the only criterion for reprioritisation. It is as important to take note of the maturity of the media market in question and whether audiences have access to free and open media. We will continue to assess and review our portfolio of services against the changing media and geopolitical landscape.

Why are you staying in Romania when you have decided to withdraw services from our neighbours? Is this because you think the media in Romania is not sufficiently free and open? Or, that the country is not sufficiently stable?

Romania's access to free and independent media is significantly lower than neighbouring countries, rating at 47 on the Press Freedom Index. Most other neighbouring countries are between 20 and 37.

The impact of the Romanian language service is significantly higher than neighbouring countries at 1.4 million listeners (7.6 per cent reach). We have good FM facilities and reach an opinion former audience of almost 17 per cent.

We note that Romania is bidding for EU membership and we will continue to monitor the situation accordingly.

The Government's Green Paper was very clear about reprioritising BBC World Service language services, starting with accession countries. Is the BBC at risk of losing its independence by simply following the government's direction?

The Green Paper is a summation of comprehensive debate around the UK, amongst stake holders and those with an interest in the media, intended to provoke discussion.

The passage in the Green Paper relating to vernacular language services made it clear that it is for the BBC to consider which language services it wishes to broadcast. The BBC's response stated that the Green Paper reflected discussions already taking place between BBC World Service and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).

As the FCO is our main sponsor, we take note of their strategic direction whilst retaining our editorial independence and responsibility for day-to-day management. The proposals outlined today emanated from the BBC and were sent for approval, as under the Charter and Agreement, to the Secretary of State.

Will you be closing more language services in the future to fund other new investments?

BBC World Service throughout its history has opened and closed many language services in response to the changing world in which it has operated.

Our long term future has always depended on us adapting and keeping abreast of the rapidly changing media markets. It will continue to be important that we constantly review our portfolio of services and reprioritise our funding accordingly.

However we do not envisage changes on this scale in the foreseeable future.

Further questions and answers

General queries

Launching Arabic television

Next steps