Investors in "Bridges TV" Misled?the bridges,bridges tv online

The Buffalo News carries a puff-piece today on the Nov. 30 opening of "Bridges TV," a new cable channel aimed at American Muslim viewers. Its founder and chief executive officer, Muzzammil S. Hassan, 40, says he chose the name because its purpose is "to build bridges of friendship and understanding." It all sounds great until one learns that the project's $5-$10 million in backing from more than fifty investors seems to be based on an error: "Hassan was able to sell investors," theBuffalo News's Jay Tokasz reports, "on key demographics for the nation's estimated 7 million Muslims." A more accurate population figure of U.S. Muslims would be less than half that large.

It is hard to imagine that hard-headed investors would put their funds into an operation premised on the mythical but faulty figure of 7 million Muslims in the United States, but if they really did, then I suspect it won't be around very long. (November 26, 2004)

Nov. 29, 2004 update: The press release announcing Bridges TV's going on air casually mentions "the 8 million Muslims of North America." Given that Canada has an authenticated Muslim populationof just under 600,000, that implies U.S. Muslims number 7.4 million. Who is fooling whom?

Dec. 2, 2004 update: Robert Spencer did a bit of digging into Bridges TV and notes this FAQ exchange:

How can I check the legitimacy of Bridges TV?

You may wish to check the legitimacy of Bridges TV with:

1. Imam W. Deen Muhammad. Imam of American Society of Muslims, the largest Muslim organization in North America. Their Muslim Journal has run cover story articles and full-page ads on Bridges TV. Phone number: 708-798-6750.

2. Dr. Souheil Ghannouchi, President of Muslim American Society, the largest Arab American national organization. Phone number: 703-998-6525.

3. Nihad Awad, Executive Director of CAIR -- the most prestigious American Muslim advocacy group in North America. CAIR phone number: 202-488-8787.

4. Aleem Rahman, President & CEO of IslamiCity.com, the largest Muslim Web site in North America. Phone number: 310-642-0006.

5. Mr. Alex Kronemer, creator and producer of $3 million PBS movie Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet. Phone number: 301-438-3993.

W. Deen Mohammed has a mixed record but the other four are all out-and-out Islamists. So, I take back my "It all sounds great" comment above. It sounds, rather, like another dismal effort of the Wahhabi lobby.

Feb. 15, 2005 update: A puff-piece today states that "With 10,000 subscribers already paid up, there is clearly a great demand for programming catered to this niche." Out of a supposed potential audience of 7.4 million, that does not strike me as "clearly a great demand" for what Bridges TV has to offer.

May 18, 2005 update: A Bridges TV press release today includes another interesting demographic statistic: that Islam has "a 6.2 percent annual growth rate" in the United States. I sure wonder where that comes from.

May 1, 2006 update: After nearly a year and a half in operation, where does Bridges TV stand? Judging by a report in the Buffalo News, its commercial prospects look pretty desperate. Responding to an aggressive campaign (which has included accusations of "Islamophobia") to include the station as part of Adelphia Communications' basic cable lineup, Adelphia has released some figures: In the Erie and Niagara counties of New York State, only 34 subscribers of its 300,000 customers have signed up to pay the additional $14.99 per month to receive Bridges TV. The company also indicated it had received a total of 106 e-mail complaints about the premium service fee, of which only 19 came from western New York and only 10 from current customers.

June 14, 2006 update: Thirty-four subscribers out of 300,000, when backed by an effective pressure campaign, turns out to be an adequate number, after all. "Bridges TV Goes Mainstream on Adelphia Cable: The Network Is No Longer a Premium Service on Adelphia Cable," reads Bridges TV's the triumphant press release. The programming will be available on channel 260 of Adelphia Digital Basic Cable service. Nancy Sanders, Bridges TV's news director, helpfully pointed out that her station offers "a completely unique perspective on issues from Danish Cartoons to Dubai Ports."

Oct. 19, 2006 update: Bridges TV has extended its availability into six states, creating a potential audience of nearly 2 million. As its reach spreads, so does the scrutiny. Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI) reports on some of its more dubious guests:

One religious figure who appeared October 3 said Muslims have a duty to change America and to increase their numbers to 50% of the population from 2%. He recommended that Shariah, or Islamic law, be implemented in American courts. During a roundtable discussion on the Arab-Israeli conflict on October 5, one participant offered a solution: "For the Jews to leave and return to Europe."

Bridges TV aired a speech by the influential Muslim scholar Jamal Badawi on October 4. Mr. Badawi, who teaches Islam throughout North America, gave an interview to the Saudi Gazette on June 24, 2005, in which he raised questions about who was behind the September 11 attacks and suggested that Americans could be behind the car bombings of Iraqi markets.

Every night, Bridges TV shows a news program, "Talking Points." Its guest on October 4 was Imam Mohammad Alo Elahi, whom it described as a leading "interfaith figure." According to his Web site, Imam Elahi was a spiritual leader in Ayatollah Khomeini's Iranian navy and also is the leader of "one of the largest mosques in the U.S.," in Dearborn, Mich. The Web site describes his meetings with world leaders and shows photographs of him with the spiritual adviser of Hezbollah, Ayatollah Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah; Ayatollah Khomeini; Presidents Khatemi and Rafsanjani of Iran; Secretary-General Annan of the United Nations; and Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Throughout the day, Bridges TV airs segments of Koranic verses, quite a few of which denounce "unbelievers." One notable verse that aired October 9 praised martyrdom.

Since the Islamic holy month of Ramadan began, the channel has been showing official, Saudi government-controlled Wahhabi sermons from Mecca's holiest mosque, Al-Haram. The sermons stream live via Saudi TV Channel one every day at 4 p.m., and Bridges TV adds its own English subtitles. An anti-Jewish, anti-Christian sermon from October 5 included the call, "May God destroy them!"