British Muslim TV was conceptualised towards the end of 2013 and underwent planning from 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. The channel is independently owned by Mr Arshad Ashraf and is funded solely by advertising. Prominent advertisers include British Muslim Charities Read Foundation and Penny Appeal. Upon launching the channel Wasim Akhtar, explained that British Muslim TV aims to be different from the other Muslim based channels in the UK by being: "inclusive of all different views and open to all different types of Muslims. So the channel isn’t just about issues of faith, it's about practical Muslim life here in Britain." He added: "We're really passionate about bringing content that's relative to the generations of today, so we made sure that our programming isn't solely made up from presenters or content from overseas. As a result, we feel we will provide both Muslim and non-Muslim communities with news, views and insights into how British Muslims live today."
Content
In June 2014, British Muslim TV was launched on the Sky Digital platform. It is aimed at showcasing the best the British Muslim community has to offer. It states, "A new Sky channel that provides both Muslim and non-Muslim communities with news, views and insights into how British Muslims live. We will also present content from our community, for our community, with the aim to make British Muslims feel confidently Muslim and comfortably British." The channel added, "Viewers will be treated to a range of engaging, entertaining and educational content, aimed at showcasing the best that our British Muslim community has to offer." The programme content has been exclusively funded and made in the UK. The channel 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. The other shows broadcast include Marriage Made in Britain, Talking Booth, Halal Kitchen',British Muslim Teen Vision. and ‘Women Like Us’, a woman-led panel show which covers a range of issues relating to British Muslim women. The show features regular hosts, including producer and lead presenter Sabah Choudhry, Aina Khan and Malia Bouattia In 2016, they financed the production of British romantic comedy filmFinding Fatimah'', which will be released in UK cinemas in April 2017.
