After seven years on the airwaves, Qatar Foundation‘s Arabic and English radio stations will end their operations in October, the organization announced yesterday.

The stations will enter a “transitional phase” over the next four months and will broadcast “past and current successful programs” before ceasing all transmissions at the end of October, QF said in a statement.

Mohammed Al Beshri, QF media center manager, denied that the decision for the closure was due to cost-cutting.

Instead, it is part of an organization-wide refocus on its media operations, particularly favoring social media, he told Doha News.

He said he “hoped” that none of the 19 members of staff currently working on the channels will be laid off.