The BBC is a publicly funded, state-adjacent broadcaster. It is not privately owned; it operates as a public corporation established by Royal Charter and is funded largely through the TV licence paid by UK households, with governance overseen by a board and the government renewing the charter periodically. Key points

• Ownership model: Public corporation created by Royal Charter.
• Funding: Primarily from the licence fee paid by the UK public; government sets the framework and charter terms.
• Governance: A BBC Board (non-executive chair plus other directors) oversees strategy and editorial independence, with day-to-day operations run by the executive team. The government designates the chair and can influence the charter, but the BBC maintains editorial independence from political and commercial pressures.
• Independence: The BBC is designed to operate free from government control in its editorial decisions, though it remains accountable to Parliament and the public through the charter and regulatory frameworks.

If you’d like, I can pull up the most current official statements on BBC governance and funding from sources like the BBC’s own site, the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport, or parliamentary briefing papers.