Friday, 29 March, 2024, 5:00 AM
Advance Search
Home

BBC Arabic Radio goes off air after 85 years

Published : Saturday, 28 January, 2023 at 6:33 PM  Count : 602

BBC Arabic Radio goes off air after 85 years

BBC Arabic Radio goes off air after 85 years


BBC Arabic Radio has gone off air since Friday after 85 years of broadcasting as part of a plan to cut costs and focus on digital programming, reports Al Jazeera.

The corporation said it is cutting hundreds of jobs in its World Service and has been forced to make the cuts because of the United Kingdom government's imposition of a freeze on the license fee money it receives.
At least 382 jobs worldwide will be cut as the corporation focuses on digital content production amid a $35m funding gap.

The BBC announced in September that the Arabic language radio service was among 10 different foreign language services that would cease radio broadcasts, including the Chinese, Hindi and Persian services.

Alastair Campbell, who used to be a strategist and adviser to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, said the UK government has had to make "very difficult choices" since the weakening of the economy due to Brexit and other factors.

"I think they're very, very sad. I think that people underestimate the impact that the BBC has," Campbell told Al Jazeera, adding that it is an independent broadcaster despite its links to the British government.

"What that meant for many countries around the world is that they see this as a really important, significant source of proper news gathering," Campbell said. "I actually think that the undermining of the BBC is at the heart of the government's strategy."

The Arabic language station launched on January 3, 1938, from Egypt.

Hosam El Sokkari, former head of BBC Arabic, said the radio service was a "lifeline for lots of people in under privileged areas" as they listened to news via small and inexpensive devices.

"Now, they would have to use much more complicated and probably more expensive devices if they want to listen or enjoy the BBC services," El Sokkari told Al Jazeera from Cairo.

"It's quite a sad moment … especially that it was not only a language service, but a service where we had experimented with very early forms of interactions with audiences," he said.

Similarly, former BBC India correspondent Mark Tully described the ending of these radio services as "very sad".

"Radio is a very powerful medium, especially in South Asia," Tully told Al Jazeera.

"I've seen the impact of radio, and it's quite clear that it is probably the most attractive way of communicating news," he said.

Many took to social media to express their sadness and disappointment towards the decision.

Source: Al Jazeera

END/SZA






Latest News
Most Read News
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: info©dailyobserverbd.com, news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
  [ABOUT US]     [CONTACT US]   [AD RATE]   Developed & Maintenance by i2soft