Bridges TV

Bridges TV was a Muslim television network in the United States. It was originally headquartered in Buffalo, New York. Premiering nationally in November 15, 2004, it was the first American Muslim television network to broadcast in the English language.[1][2][3] The channel ceased operations March 15, 2012.

CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersBuffalo, New York
Programming
Language(s)American English
History
LaunchedNovember 15, 2004
ClosedMarch 15, 2012

Designed to counter negative stereotypes of Muslims, the network received attention from publications and media venues such as Variety, NBC News, the Voice of America, Columbus Dispatch, Detroit Free Press, San Jose Mercury News, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, The Buffalo News and Canadian Press.[4]

In July 2011, Bridges TV moved to New York City in hopes of broadening its influence across America with help from Soundview Broadcasting. The move crippled the company and was only meant for Soundview to absorb Bridges TV's customers and its small influence in the Muslim American Market. The channel suffered a setback when its founder beheaded his estranged wife.

Content

By focusing its content on the experiences of the estimated eight million Muslims living in North America, Bridges TV differentiates itself from such foreign language programming as Geo TV (which broadcasts in Urdu), Prime TV (which broadcasts in Urdu) and Arab Radio and Television Network (which broadcasts in Arabic). Around the time of its inception, the network announced that it would seek to feature sitcoms that represent American Muslim family life in a positive way and identified The Cosby Show as a model for such programming.[1]

In late 2005, Bridges TV started airing "Current Issues", a show produced in Lafayette, Louisiana about Palestinian and other Middle Eastern concerns. The Palestinian American host, Hesham Tillawi, is known for vocalizing criticism against Israel's treatment of Arabs and Muslims. The Anti-Defamation League called his show "a megaphone for Holocaust deniers and white supremacists seeking to broadcast their hatred and anti-Semitism into American homes with a "who's who" of notable American antisemites including David Duke, Willis Carto, Edgar J. Steele, Mark Weber, and Bradley Smith.[5]

Another program shown on Bridges TV, "American Pilgrimage", featured Rabbi Brad Hirschfield visiting homes and mosques of leading imams and Muslim religious thinkers across North America in cities including Halifax, Detroit, San Francisco, New York City and Washington, D.C. The series has been described as "groundbreaking" and has been characterized as having a "Charlie Rose meets Charles Kuralt" format.[6]

World heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, a subscriber and spokesperson for the network, said: "Bridges TV gives American Muslims a voice of their own on the airwaves for Americans of all races and religions to hear."[2] Network official expressed the opinion that a channel like Bridges TV was long overdue and market research sponsored by the network revealed American Muslims' willingness to pay as much as $10 per month above and beyond their current cable television or satellite television fee for the channel.[1]

Leadership

Muzzammil S. Hassan, founder[7] and CEO of Bridges TV, expressed belief "that moderate Muslims cannot identify with the extreme stereotypes often depicted in Hollywood productions" and said "They think they are not accurately portrayed...Bridges TV gives American Muslims a voice and will depict them in everyday, real life situations."[1] Hassan also said he hoped the Bridges TV network would balance negative portrayals of Muslims following the attacks on September 11, 2001.[3]

Murder

In February 2009, Hassan was arrested and charged with beheading his estranged wife Aasiya Zubair who also worked for Bridges TV.[3][4][8][9] Her decapitated body was found at the TV station.[4][10][11] Dr. Khalid Qazi, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council of Western New York and a friend of the couple, said that Hassan "was worried about the station's future...He was stressed" and added "Domestic violence is despicable, and Islam condones it in no way whatever."[4][8] Shortly after the arrest of Muzzammil Hassan, Bridges TV posted the following notice on their website:

Bridges TV is deeply shocked and saddened by the murder of Aasiya [Zubair] Hassan and subsequent arrest of Muzzammil Hassan. Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the families of the victim. We request that their right to privacy be respected.[12]

In the aftermath of Aasiya Zubair Hassan's death, Bridges TV shut down its news operations for three months, although it continued to present other programming. The news operation later resumed, and the network continued to operate, although on a smaller scale than previously projected.[13] As of May 2010, the network reported that it was carried in 4 million homes in two dozen markets.[14] Hassan was convicted in February 2011 of second-degree murder.[7]

References
  1. News aljazeerah.info: First American Muslim Television Channel Announced by Bridges Network Archived 2009-02-25 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Press Release: Bridges TV Debuts American Muslim Television Network in English Nationwide on November 30, 2004 Archived March 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  3. CNN: Founder of Islamic TV station accused of beheading wife (February 16, 2009)
  4. Catholic Online: U.S. Muslim Beheads Wife (2/17/2009) Archived 2009-02-20 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Anti-Defamation League: Hesham Tillawi / "Current Issues"". Archived from the original on 2006-05-29. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  6. "National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership: American Pilgrimage". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
  7. TV boss Muzzammil Hassan found guilty of beheading wife BBC News. February 7, 2011.
  8. New York Daily News Muslim TV mogul Muzzammil Hassan's alleged beheading of wife, Aasiya Hassan, may be 'honor killing' (February 17th 2009)
  9. Buffalo News (02/13/09)
  10. Muslim TV exec accused of beheading wife in NY AP, 2009-02-17
  11. Neale Gulley (February 7, 2011). "Western New York man found guilty of beheading wife". Reuters. Archived from the original on February 8, 2011.
  12. Bridges TV Accessed 17 February 2009 Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Jay Tokazs, "Bridges TV rebuilds from tragedy", Buffalo News, February 13, 2010.
  14. "Bridges TV survives crime of NY founder's death", AP at Salon.com, May 3, 2010.
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