BBC Farsi Closes After 82 Years of Broadcasting

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has announced that after 82 years of operation, BBC Farsi Radio would stop broadcasting.

The final program of BBC Farsi Radio will be broadcast today, Sunday, March 26.

The corporation announced the closure of BBC Farsi and Arabic radio in September last year as part of “strategic changes” to focus on publishing content on digital platforms.

The World Service said in September 2022 that it planned to cut costs by closing its Persian and Arabic radio station, but an online service will continue.

At least 382 employees of the BBC World Service will lose their jobs. The World Service had stated that it aims to save £28.5m million by closing Persian and Arabic radio stations as part of a more considerable effort to save £500 million yearly.

The broadcaster has said that the cuts result from years of UK government-imposed limits on license fees below inflation, in addition to the rising cost of producing programs.

Also, the corporation will stop producing radio content in ten other languages, including Chinese and Hindi.

The BBC launched its first Farsi radio service as part of its Empire Service on December 29, 1940, with support from the Foreign Office during World War Second.

BBC Farsi broadcasting service provides the latest political, social, economic and sports news relevant to Afghanistan, Iran and Tajikistan.

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