BBC – Bias and Credibility

History

Founded in 1922 by John Reith, The British Broadcasting Company is Britain’s public broadcaster. The company later became the British Broadcasting Corporation. The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) began its daily radio transmissions in 1922. The BBC currently provides television, radio, and online services throughout Britain and overseas and is headquartered in the Broadcasting House, London, United Kingdom.

The BBC began the world’s first regular television service in 1932. TV broadcasting was suspended during the Second World War, and BBC radio was an important source for news and entertainment. The BBC held a monopoly on television in Great Britain until 1954 and on radio until 1972.

Read our profile on United Kingdom Government and Media.

Funded by / Ownership

The BBC operates under a Royal Charter. Oversight is managed by the BBC Board, and regulatory authority rests with Ofcom. Funding is drawn primarily from the compulsory UK television license fee, described here: BBC Licence Fee.

Analysis

The BBC is frequently accused of bias from both left and right, but recent developments point toward a rightward drift relative to past assessments. A 2025 analysis from The Conversation argues that political pressure and editorial decisions are shifting the BBC toward more conservative framing. See: The Conversation analysis.

A major 2025 Good Law Project / YouGov poll found that 70% of trans respondents consider the BBC’s coverage “hostile,” citing years of platforming fringe anti-trans views as if they were mainstream. See: Good Law Project poll.

At the same time, right-wing critics continue to attack the BBC. President Donald Trump recently announced plans to sue the corporation for $1–$5 billion over what he claims is defamatory coverage. See: The Hill report.

The BBC maintains editorial impartiality guidelines available here: Editorial Principles. Complaints can be filed through Ofcom: BBC Complaints Process.

Bias

In past reporting, the BBC has been criticized by both the political right and left. Notable examples include the Evening Standard and The Times of London.

A 2014 Pew Research Center report found that a significant portion of BBC’s audience is liberal: Pew Audience Survey.

A 2021 Reuters Institute report found the BBC ranked #1 in trust among UK news sources: Reuters Trust Survey.

The BBC regularly publishes neutral straight-news headlines, such as this example. However, its coverage of Donald Trump has historically been more negative, as noted here: BBC Trump Coverage. However, social coverage has moved toward to the right in recent years.

Failed Fact Checks

• A group of puppies transported more than 100 miles died with Covid-19. – False (Corrected)
• The BBC was accused of and admitted to selectively editing video and audio to frame Donald Trump negatively. (See above.)

Overall, we rate the BBC Least Biased with a slight lean to the right, reflecting recent editorial patterns and a tendency toward establishment-oriented framing. We also rate them Mostly Factual, based on generally reliable sourcing but reduced for instances such as editing Donald Trump’s speech in a manner that framed it negatively, along with occasional issues involving sensitive social coverage. (5/15/2016) Updated (M. Huitsing 11/17/2025)

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news