And it dangerously puts the BBC on the same level as actual state sponsored media. Note: this is likely happened due to the BBC’s excellent coverage in India recently.

Are they funded by the state? Of course we would all like to look at our favorite media outlets and say they aren't state sponsored because we enjoy their content. Our enjoyment of that content will always bias us towards saying that "it isn't like that other media outlet, they are really run by the...