British Muslim TV, a new channel aimed at British Muslims will be launching in the UK this June. Its arrival joins an already growing number of specialized, niche channels for religious and ethnic minorities in recent years. But unlike most of these channels, the programme content of British Muslim TV has been exclusively funded and made in the UK.
Soon to air on the British Sky digital platform, filming has already been underway to create content that reflects the different voices of the Muslim community in the UK and to embody the tag line "Confidently Muslim, Comfortably British". The channel has already generated interest through a social media campaign on both Facebook and Twitter.
British Muslim TV was conceptualized towards the end of last year and has been undergoing planning since the start of 2014, having quickly established substantial "pre-sold advertising" to make the concept into a reality, according to Wasim Akhtar, Director of Marketing and Communications. Other members of the senior leadership team include Aamer Naeem, the Editor in Chief, Arshad Ashraf, Director and Danny Lacey, Creative Director of the channel.
Channels for Muslim communities in the UK are not new and have been broadcasting in the UK since 2004. Islam Channel is one of this country's most prominent and popular free-to-air, English language Muslim satellite channels. Other channels like Noor TV, Peace TV and Iqra TV have a South Asian focus, with some of the content broadcast in Urdu or Bangladeshi. More recently, Shia focused channels have also emerged like Hidayet TV and Ahlebait TV.
Whilst Islam Channel is watched by approximately 60 per cent of Britain's 1.6 million Muslims, it has regularly faced criticisms, especially amongst British Muslims, for the lack of quality programming and an overemphasis on fundraising programs.
According to the census data from 2011, Muslims are the fastest growing religious group in the UK and half of this population is under the age of 30. Marketing experts have been keen to promote the importance of exploring the needs and motivations of the Muslim market which is increasingly being viewed as important and influential. However, concerns over what it means to be British, propelled by the recent popularity of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) during the recent local and European elections have meant that the political and media landscape has been increasingly focusing its attention on British Muslim identity and its associated cultural and religious practices.
With an increasing spotlight on British Muslims and Islam, Abdul-Rehman Malik, who is programs director at Radical Middle Way believes: "In some ways British Muslim TV couldn't come at a better time. The handwringing over what it means to be "British" and the growing unease about Britain's place in Europe and the World, stands in sharp contrast to the reality of most British Muslims who are comfortably cosmopolitan, multilingual, multicultural and at home in Britain and the world.
With the channel launching later this month, British Muslim TV has a line-up of programs that include entertainment and educational formats such as "Teenie Vision" for younger audiences, lifestyle shows like "Halal Kitchen" and political/current affairs based programs. Lauren Booth, a British journalist and sister-in-law of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, will be hosting her own show called "Talking Booth," a one-to-one interview show featuring high profile guests.
Muslims are the fastest growing religious group in the UK. So, what channel do they flip to for home entertainment?