Was GT really intended to end after the Bebi Saga?

[DBZAOTA482]

I hear GT was originally gonna cancelled after 40 episodes (possibly due to poor ratings) but had more episodes created to promote that sorry excuse for a fighting game called Dragon Ball: Final Bout (Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout for North America and Europe).

Is this true...?

 

[Captain Cadaver]

I haven't heard any official sources cite it, though with Toei's constant milking that they've done with other low tier spin offs of anime (eg. Saint Seiya Omega), I doubt they would've ended GT there, regardless of ratings.