BBC's first foreign language service - BBC Arabic Radio - on Friday formally ceased operations, signalling the end of an era for most of its Arabic-speaking listeners.
Ending the broadcast after 85 years since its launch in early 1938, the move comes as its cost cuts measures. The station was BBC Empire Service’s first foreign language radio broadcast.
The radio grew to be popularly known as 'Huna London' (This is London), the signature phrase that its presenters began every broadcast with.
Many media professionals and public figures took to Social Media to share their sorrow.
A Middle East correspondent for BBC News tweeted, “Tears in my eyes as I listen to the last broadcast by BBC Arabic, closing down after 85 years. It meant so much to so many people here over the decades. Now the airwaves are dead. End of an era.”
Another BBC correspondent Emir Nader shared the last two minutes of the Arabic radio’s final broadcast and wrote: “Today is a tragic day for Arab media… One of many huge losses following cuts in BBC World Service's budget.”
BBC in an announcement earlier had said that the Arabic language radio service was among 10 different foreign language services that would cease broadcasts, including the Chinese, Hindi and Persian services.
