Monitoring Desk
LONDON: The BBC Arabic radio service, which had been on the air for the last 85 years, officially ended its broadcast on Friday, leaving behind a legacy that many believe to be everlasting.
The station, which launched in 1938 as the BBC Empire Service’s first foreign language radio broadcast, had been a source of news and information for generations of listeners across the Middle East, according to Arab News.
Twitter was filled with grief, and fond memories as journalists and public figures shared their thoughts on the station’s closure. Some saw it as a loss of the United Kingdom’s soft power, while others recalled their time at the studios.
BBC reporters and listeners express emotional thoughts
Emir Nader, a correspondent for the BBC, shared the final moments of the last broadcast of BBC Arabic radio. He commented that this is a tragic day for Arab media, as it is one of many significant losses resulting from budget cuts at the BBC World Service.
BBC News correspondent Jim Muir expressed his emotions on Twitter upon the closing of BBC Arabic’s final broadcast after 85 years. He noted the impact the station had on many people in the Middle East and how it marked the end of an era.
Many listeners also shared their memories and sadness on social media, with some saying that the station was a window to the world, especially during economic blockades and ISIS occupation, and provided them with an essential source of information.
The end of the BBC Arabic radio service is a significant loss for many people in the Middle East, who had relied on the station for decades for accurate and impartial news and information. It’s a tragic moment and a reminder of the importance of international news and cultural exchange.
