British Muslim TV

British Muslim TV is a UK-based English-language television and digital media brand focused on Islamic content, British Muslim life, community perspectives and wider social discussion. It was conceived toward the end of 2013 and planned from early 2014 before launching on the Sky platform in June 2014. At launch, the channel presented itself as a service for both Muslim and non-Muslim audiences, combining news, commentary, entertainment and educational programming with content intended to help British Muslims feel both confidently Muslim and comfortably British. The channel has operated as an independently owned venture associated with founder Arshad Ashraf and has been described as funded exclusively through commercial advertising. Its programming has included lifestyle, family, youth, cooking, discussion and current-affairs formats. Examples include Marriage Made in Britain, Talking Booth, Halal Kitchen, British Muslim Teen Vision and Women Like Us, a female-led panel programme addressing issues affecting British Muslim women. Its on-screen contributors have included Guz Khan, Lauren Booth and Myriam François. British Muslim TV developed a visible relationship with the British Muslim charitable and community sector. Read Foundation and Penny Appeal were among its prominent former advertisers. Penny Appeal's substantial presence on the channel led to public commentary in 2014 questioning whether the station appeared too closely associated with the charity, although the channel and Penny Appeal have maintained that they were separate entities. In 2015, Penny Appeal used British Muslim TV for an extended live charitable broadcast that was recognised by Guinness World Records. The brand expanded beyond broadcasting in 2016 when it commissioned the British romantic comedy film Finding Fatimah, released in UK cinemas in April 2017. It also participated in interfaith and civic initiatives, including a 2018 collaboration with Church Times and Jewish News to publish a list recognising young leaders from different faith communities. In 2020, Joseph Hayat became editor-in-chief, and the channel commissioned The Naz Shah Show, hosted by Labour MP Naz Shah. The programme was described as the first television show hosted by a sitting female British member of Parliament. Audience measurement reported strong Ramadan performance. In the first two weeks of Ramadan in the second quarter of 2021, the channel reportedly attracted more than one million viewers according to BARB figures. In April 2022, Turkish Consul General Seyfi Onur Sayin inaugurated a refurbished studio reported to have cost approximately £150,000 and to include a 30-square-metre video wall. In June 2024, British Muslim TV was removed from Sky's electronic programme guide. Founder Arshad Ashraf characterised the change as a revised linear strategy and part of a further move toward digital distribution, rather than an end to the brand. The channel marked its tenth anniversary in 2024 and relocated its studios to 130 Westgate in Wakefield, a move that also created more visible distance from the Penny Appeal Campus. In July 2024, Joseph Hayat's departure as editor-in-chief was announced, with Ashraf thanking him for helping to advance the brand's transition. British Muslim TV therefore combines the legacy of a satellite television channel with an ongoing digital-first identity.

British Muslim TV was conceived in late 2013 and developed through planning work undertaken from early 2014. It launched on Sky in June 2014 as an English-language Islamic-focused channel designed around British Muslim experiences. Its stated editorial ambition was broader than religious broadcasting alone: it sought to offer news, opinions, community perspectives, entertainment and educational programming to Muslim and non-Muslim viewers. The channel was independently owned by Arshad Ashraf and funded through commercial advertising. Its programming mix included relationship and family content, discussion formats, youth programming, food and lifestyle shows, and women-focused panels. Marriage Made in Britain, Talking Booth, Halal Kitchen, British Muslim Teen Vision and Women Like Us were among the formats associated with the channel. On-screen talent included Guz Khan, Lauren Booth and Myriam François. British Muslim TV's commercial and community profile was shaped partly by advertising from Muslim charities, including Read Foundation and Penny Appeal. In 2014, commentary from the editor of 5Pillars argued that Penny Appeal's prominent presence made the channel appear closely tied to the charity. The relationship generated debate about branding and editorial independence, while the organisations maintained that they were separate. In 2015, Penny Appeal staged an extended live fundraising broadcast through British Muslim TV that lasted 11 days, 11 hours and 11 minutes and was recognised by Guinness World Records. The brand broadened its activities in 2016 by commissioning Finding Fatimah, a British romantic comedy released in UK cinemas in April 2017. In 2018, it collaborated with Church Times and Jewish News on a list celebrating young leaders from different faith communities, reflecting an interest in interfaith and civic engagement. Editorial leadership changed in February 2020 when Joseph Hayat became editor-in-chief. Later that year, the channel commissioned The Naz Shah Show, hosted by Naz Shah MP. The programme was notable for giving a sitting female British MP her own television show. Audience reach was reported to have exceeded one million viewers in the first two weeks of Ramadan in 2021, based on BARB figures. In April 2022, Turkish Consul General Seyfi Onur Sayin inaugurated a refurbished studio reportedly costing £150,000 and incorporating a 30-square-metre video wall. The channel's distribution model changed in 2024. On 28 June it was reported that British Muslim TV had disappeared from Sky's electronic programme guide. Arshad Ashraf subsequently confirmed the move while describing it as a revised linear strategy and a stronger embrace of digital media, indicating that the brand would continue beyond the Sky television listing. During its tenth-anniversary year, the organisation relocated its studios to 130 Westgate in Wakefield, creating greater separation from Penny Appeal Campus. Joseph Hayat left the editor-in-chief role in July 2024. The brand's current identity is consequently best understood as a digital-first British Muslim media platform retaining the heritage and programming experience of its former satellite channel.

• 2024

  Shift from Sky to digital distribution

  [1]British Muslim TVen.wikipedia.org

  The brand left Sky's EPG, relocated its studios in Wakefield and publicly emphasised a digital-first strategy.

• 2022

  Refurbished studio inaugurated

  [1]British Muslim TVen.wikipedia.org

  A refurbished studio with a large video wall opened in an event attended by Turkey's consul general in Manchester.

• 2020

  New editor-in-chief and political talk show

  [1]British Muslim TVen.wikipedia.org

  Joseph Hayat became editor-in-chief, and The Naz Shah Show was commissioned later that year.

• 2018

  Interfaith young-leaders collaboration

  [1]British Muslim TVen.wikipedia.org

  The channel collaborated with Church Times and Jewish News on a list of young leaders.

• 2017

  Finding Fatimah reaches UK cinemas

  [1]British Muslim TVen.wikipedia.org

  The commissioned British romantic comedy received a UK cinema release in April.

• 2016

  Film commissioning begins

  [1]British Muslim TVen.wikipedia.org

  British Muslim TV commissioned Finding Fatimah, extending its activities into feature-film production.

• 2015

  Responsible Media of the Year award

  [1]British Muslim TVen.wikipedia.org

  The channel won the Responsible Media of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.

• 2014

  Sky channel launch

  [1]British Muslim TVen.wikipedia.org

  British Muslim TV launched on Sky as an English-language channel serving Muslim and non-Muslim audiences.

• 2013

  Concept developed

  [1]British Muslim TVen.wikipedia.org

  The concept for British Muslim TV was formed toward the end of 2013.

A British Muslim-focused English-language media brand that combines Islamic perspectives with entertainment, community storytelling, social discussion and content aimed at both Muslim and non-Muslim audiences.

• Television programme

  Marriage Made in Britain

  A relationship and family-oriented programme built around marriage and partnership within British Muslim communities.

• Discussion programme

  Talking Booth

  A conversational discussion format associated with the channel's broader editorial effort to examine community issues and viewpoints.

• Cooking and lifestyle programme

  Halal Kitchen

  A food-focused format presenting cooking and lifestyle content through a halal and Muslim-oriented editorial lens.

• Youth programme

  British Muslim Teen Vision

  A youth-oriented programme intended to provide a platform for British Muslim teenagers and their perspectives.

• Panel discussion programme

  Women Like Us

  A female-led panel show covering issues and experiences relevant to British Muslim women.

• Political and current-affairs programme · 2020

  The Naz Shah Show

  A programme hosted by Naz Shah MP, commissioned in 2020 and notable for giving a sitting female British MP her own television show.

• Feature film · 2017

  Finding Fatimah

  A British romantic comedy commissioned by British Muslim TV in 2016 and released in UK cinemas in April 2017.

• 2018Interfaith young-leaders list

  United Kingdom

  British Muslim TV worked with Church Times and Jewish News to highlight young leaders across faith communities.

  Outcome. The collaboration produced a published interfaith list.

  Source
• 2015Penny Appeal record-breaking live broadcast

  United Kingdom

  British Muslim TV carried Penny Appeal's extended live charitable broadcast, which ran for 11 days, 11 hours and 11 minutes.

  Outcome. The broadcast received Guinness World Records recognition for its duration.

  Source

• 2024

  Transition from Sky distribution to a digital-first modelStrategy

  Background

  The channel was removed from Sky's electronic programme guide during its tenth anniversary year.

  Action taken

  Founder Arshad Ashraf framed the change as a revised linear strategy and a stronger embrace of digital distribution.

  Aftermath

  British Muslim TV continued as a digital-oriented media brand while leaving its former Sky listing.

  Source

• 2024

  Studio relocation to WakefieldStrategy

  Background

  The brand marked its tenth anniversary while seeking greater operational separation from Penny Appeal Campus.

  Action taken

  Its studios were moved to 130 Westgate in Wakefield.

  Aftermath

  The relocation reinforced the channel's independent identity and supported its continuing digital transition.

  Source

• 2020

  Commissioning of The Naz Shah ShowProduct launch

  Background

  The channel pursued political and public-affairs programming with a prominent British Muslim political presenter.

  Action taken

  It commissioned The Naz Shah Show, hosted by Naz Shah MP.

  Aftermath

  The programme was described as the first television show hosted by a female British MP.

  Source

• 2016

  Commissioning of Finding FatimahProduct launch

  Background

  The channel expanded beyond television programming into feature-film production.

  Action taken

  British Muslim TV commissioned the romantic comedy Finding Fatimah.

  Aftermath

  The film was released in UK cinemas in April 2017.

  Source

1. 1British Muslim TVen.wikipedia.org