* It's not owned by private individuals or companies. It's owned by the British public through the government.
* It receives its funding primarily through the TV License fee. This is a mandatory fee paid by every household with a TV.
* It's governed by a Board of Governors appointed by the government, but operates with editorial independence.
* It's a non-profit organization and any surplus revenue is reinvested back into programming and services.
While the BBC is ultimately controlled by the government, it has a strong tradition of editorial independence and is recognized as a trusted source of news and information around the world.