BUFFALO – American Arab/Muslim channel Bridges TV will soon launch in Canada.
The company announced this week that Rogers Cable will begin carrying it this spring and has also recently transitioned from a premium pay channel in the U.S. to basic cable on several cable and satellite systems there.
The year-old Buffalo, N.Y.-based cable channel was added to the list of eligible satellite services by the Commission in December.
The changes to its carriage and its launch in Canada "comes at a time when Middle Eastern and South Asian communities around the world are in the spotlight," says the company. "Most recently, the controversy around the management of American ports by Dubai Ports and worldwide protests against the publication of satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad have highlighted deep divisions between Western and Middle Eastern/South Asian cultures."
"As the world continues to be shaped by issues such as the war on terror, the ongoing struggle in Iraq, and the democratization of the Middle East, one of the greatest needs of our time is greater understanding between Western and Eastern cultures. Bridges TV is groundbreaking because now, simply while switching channels from CNN to Fox News, millions of Americans and Canadians can stumble on Bridges TV, and get a completely different and unique perspective on the most compelling news events of our time," said Mo Hassan, CEO of Bridges TV.
Bridges TV broadcasts original daily newscasts, current affairs shows, children’s programming, travel shows, documentaries, sitcoms, movies, music videos, sports, comedy, food, business and magazine shows.
"The purpose of Bridges TV is to create a platform for dialogue and friendship between the West and the East. The English language network is the first of its kind and is aimed at the more than twelve million Americans of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent, as well as millions of Americans and Canadians with an interest in these cultures, especially due to the current world situation. There are an estimated two million Canadians of Middle Eastern and South Asian heritage," says the release.
"It really fills a void," said Adnan Mirza, a director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). "There’s a clear disconnect between popular American media and the Muslim audience. The nice thing is, this is not just for the Muslim audience. Bridges TV gives a clear understanding of the issues to viewers and an opportunity for us to speak for ourselves."
