The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually referred to by its abbreviation as the "BBC", is the longest established and largest broadcaster in the world. The BBC is a publicly owned corporation that operates under a Royal Charter issued by the British Crown and its operations are overseen by twelve Governors who are appointed by the Crown on the advice of the Government. It is funded principally by an annual television licence fee, which is charged to all United Kingdom households, companies and organisations using equipment capable of recording and/or receiving live television broadcasts ; the level of the fee is set by the UK Government and agreed by the UK Parliament under a multi-year agreement with the Corporation. The BBC's main responsibility is to provide public service radio, television and internet broadcasting within the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. The BBC World Service has provided external services by direct broadcasting and re-transmission contracts by sound radio since the early 1930s, and more recently by television and online. Though sharing some of the facilities of the domestic services, particularly for news and current affairs output, the World Service has a separate Managing Director, and its operating costs are funded mainly by direct grants from the UK government. These grants are determined independently of the domestic licence fee. (via Wikipedia)