The UK government has formally launched its once-in-a-decade review of the BBC’s Royal Charter, opening a 12-week public consultation that will examine the broadcaster’s future mission, governance and funding model as ministers argue the corporation must rebuild public trust and secure a more sustainable financial footing.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the review will feed into a White Paper in 2026 and a draft new Charter that will be debated in Parliament ahead of the current Charter’s expiry in December 2027. A renewed Charter would take effect from 2028.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the government wants a BBC that remains “fiercely independent” while also being “accountable and be able to command public trust”, and funded in a way that is “sustainable and fair for audiences”. DCMS described the process as an effort to “future-proof” the broadcaster amid rapid shifts in viewing habits, intensifying global competition and falling licence-fee income.

The Green Paper, published on GOV.UK under the title “Britain’s Story: The Next Chapter”, sets out three broad objectives for the next Charter period: strengthening trust and accountability, placing the BBC on a sustainable financial footing, and ensuring the organisation drives growth and jobs across the UK’s nations and regions.

The consultation, which runs from 16 December to 10 March, invites responses from audiences, industry and civil society. It contains 34 questions across themes including the BBC’s role as a trusted institution, the scope of its public services, the broadcaster’s economic impact, and long-term funding options.

On governance and editorial standards, the government is consulting on changes intended to reinforce the BBC’s independence from political influence while also increasing transparency. Options include adjustments to how the BBC Board is appointed, and potential revisions to the BBC’s Mission and Public Purposes, including giving “accuracy” equal prominence alongside impartiality.

The Green Paper also proposes stronger expectations around openness in editorial decision-making, particularly during major news events, alongside duties to counter mis- and disinformation and an expanded media literacy role that could include responding to developments in artificial intelligence.

Alongside editorial issues, DCMS is explicitly linking trust to internal conduct, signalling that workplace culture could be more directly addressed through the Charter framework than in previous reviews. Proposals include a clearer role for the BBC Board in dealing with bullying, harassment and other misconduct, and expectations that the broadcaster sets standards for the wider industry.

Funding is expected to be among the most politically sensitive elements of the review. Ministers confirmed the licence fee will remain in place until 2027, but the consultation asks how the BBC should be financed over the longer term, including whether the current model and its concessions should be reformed and whether the BBC should have greater scope to raise commercial income.

The government is also seeking views on how to provide more sustainable support for the BBC World Service and minority-language broadcasting, including S4C, as part of a wider debate about universality and the BBC’s role overseas. Nandy has previously argued that a general taxation model would risk undermining the BBC’s independence.

The review begins against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny of the BBC’s journalism and leadership. The corporation is still dealing with fallout from a controversial Panorama edit involving remarks by Donald Trump about the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot, a dispute that has triggered public apologies and has also escalated into litigation in the United States. In November, Director-General Tim Davie and BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness resigned, citing accountability for mistakes while rejecting claims of institutional bias.

Ministers say financial pressures have compounded the challenge. DCMS has pointed to a fall of more than 30% in licence-fee income in real terms since before the current Charter period, alongside an erosion of the number of households paying the fee. The licence fee rose to £174.50 in April 2025, with CPI-linked increases planned until 2027.

Alongside launching the Charter review, the government said it is also publishing amendments to the BBC’s Framework Agreement to implement outstanding recommendations from the earlier Mid-Term Review, including expanding Ofcom’s oversight of aspects of the BBC’s online services and streamlining certain regulatory processes.

The BBC has not yet set out a detailed response to the Green Paper, but is expected to engage closely with the process as the corporation faces decisions that could reshape its public-service remit, revenue mix and governance arrangements for the next decade.