The Ahmadiyya television channel was launched on 1 January 1994 by Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International (MTA), globally-broadcasting and nonprofit satellite television network. [1] This set the foundation for the Islamic television channels available today. In July 2009, ILM Radio launched, making it the first Islamic radio station to launch nationwide in the UK. [2] ILM Radio returned in Bradford and Leeds on DAB+ Radio with new identity as Marefa Radio. Founder Qamar Zaman (AKA Shabir Qamar)
In United Kingdom, all the channels are available via Sky and Freesat. Some of these channels are also available in the Republic of Ireland. However, Islamic radio stations have been available on a local basis throughout the UK since the 1990s even though these were on a temporary licence for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Name | Language(s) | Established | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
MTA 1 World | Programming: Translations: Arabic, Bengali, English, French, German, Urdu | 1992 as AMP, [3] 1994 as MTA [4] | Ahmadiyya | First Islamic television channel and the first channel launched by the MTA International Network, which used to broadcast programmes in a variety of languages until 2020, the launch of other regional MTA channels, converted from MTA1. |
ARY QTV | Urdu | 2003 [5] | Sunni Islam | Available in Europe via Eutelsat 28A |
Islam Channel | English | 2004 [6] | Third Islamic television channel in the UK. Available throughout UK and Western Europe via Eurobird. Available throughout Europe and Middle East via Hotbird 6 and throughout Africa via Eutelsat Sesat and Eutelsat W4. | |
Noor TV | English, Urdu | 2006 [7] | Programmes approximately 70% Urdu, 20% English and 10% Other. Based on Sufi principles of Sunni Islam. [8] | |
Velayet | English, Urdu | 2007 | Shia Islam | Based on Islamic teachings from the family of Muhammad. |
Muslim Kids TV | English, Arabic, Bahasa, Urdu | 2014 [9] | Sunni Islam | An Islamic on-demand web channel with educational, entertaining, and nurturing content. |
Madani Channel | English, Urdu, Bangla | 2007 [10] | The channel is operated by Dawat-e-Islami | |
Peace TV | English | 2007 | Owned by Zakir Naik. First launched as English and Urdu language channel; in 2009, a separate Urdu language channel launched. | |
Peace TV Urdu | Urdu | 2009 | Owned by Zakir Naik. Urdu version of the English Peace TV channel. | |
Peace TV Bangla | Bangla | Owned by Zakir Naik. Bangla version of the English Peace TV channel. | ||
Hidayat TV | Urdu, English | 2009 | Shia Islam | |
IQRA TV UK | English, Urdu | 2009 [11] | Sunni Islam | IQRA TV (IQRA Bangla) (including IQRA Bangla) is owned and run by Al-Khair Foundation under the supervision of Imam Qasim. Mainly in English but also runs some Bangali and Urdu programming. Has strong links with Peace Tv and recently hosted the Al-Khair Peace convention jointly in UK. On Sky in the UK and can be received in Europe via Eurobird 1. Islam TV is owned and run by Al-Khair Foundation under the supervision of Imam Qasim. |
Ahlebait TV | Urdu, Persian | 2009 | Shia Islam | |
Ahlulbayt TV | English | 2010 | ||
Fadak | English, Arabic, Persian, French | 2011 | Started by Sheikh Yasser Al-Habib. | |
Shia TV Online | Urdu | 2014 | Based on Islamic teachings from the family of Muhammad. | |
Ummah Channel | English, Urdu | 2009 [12] | Sunni Islam | An Islamic entertainment channel covering all types of Sunni Islamic teachings. The channel closed on 31 July 2017 after apparent financial difficulty. |
Madani Channel | 2009 | Owned by Dawateislami. The channel emphasises the lifestyle of Muhammad. | ||
Takbeer TV | Urdu | 2010 | Sunni Islam | Owned and run by the Sultan Bahu Trust. Based on Sufi principles of Sunni Islam. Madani channel December 2009 Sunni Islam Owned And Run by Dawateislami. Sky 828. |
Paigham TV | Urdu, Pashto | 2011 | ||
Channel WIN | Urdu, English, Gujarati, Bengali | 2012 | First Islamic 24 Hrs Satellite Channel from India to get uplink & downlink license from government of India in the year 2012. Channel WIN is available on Intelsat 20 (IS-20) and can be seen in Asia including Far East, Middle East, Africa, Australia and Europe. We are also on following DTH platform Tata Sky - Channel 1176, Airtel Digital TV - Channel 686, Videocon d2h - Channel 793, Dish TV - Channel 1113. Roku set top box for Europe and Jadoo set top box for America.For more details visit Channel WIN website | |
British Muslim TV | English | 2014 | Sunni Islam | |
iPlus TV | Urdu | 2015 | iPlus TV [13] India's first official Islamic TV Satellite Channel registered with Ministry of Information & Broadcastingand with a valid uplinking/downlinking permission and approval and is being uplinked from Delhi to Insat 4A @83°E. iPlus TV relays high quality digital programs using latest high end technology. Interviews, talks, discussions & lectures with well known National & International Social, Political, Business, Educational, Religious, Sports & Government personalities so that the society benefits from their deep knowledge and rich experience and clarify misconceptions about Islam and Muslims promoting peace, harmony and brotherhood is an integral part of iPlus TV. For more info visit iPlus TV website | |
Eman Channel | English | 2015 | Shia Islam | Eman Channel aims to produce high-quality programs; in terms of both production value and Islamic principles; available freely on satellite television, mobile app and online. Eman Channel is a real alternative Islamic channel for Muslims. [14] Eman Channel shows range from studies of the Qur'an to Halal entertainment for Kids. For more info visit Eman Channel website |
BNSW TV | Urdu | 2016 | Ahl al-Hadith | BNSW TV is an Islamic Channel. This Channel Is Based On Islam,Quran And Hadith. Our Mission Is To Spread Islam. BNSW TV Shows Islamic Programs. For more info visit BNSW TV |
Bethat TV | Urdu | 2017 | Sunni Islam | This is an educational TV channel for propagating high standard education, arranging Islamic and Academic sciences broadcast, propagating Unity among Muslims, enhancing public awareness against the social evils and enlightening and raising the standard of public sense. For more info visit Bethat TV |
Muhammadiya TV / Napoleon TV / Al Hira TV / Nasheed TV | English/Urdu | TBA | Micro channels broadcasting via Up & Coming TV [15] channel. | |
Mercy TV | Urdu/ English/ Many Indian Languages | 2020 | Shia Islam | Mercy TV promotes authentic teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sahih Hadith. It intends to teach about Islam, communal harmony, and Universal brotherhood. |
MATV is a specialist Asian content TV channel based in Wembley, England featuring Indian programming in Hindi, English, Gujarati and Punjabi.
Islam Channel is a UK-based, free-to-air, English language, Islamic-focused satellite television channel and online media platform funded by advertising and donations. It was founded in 2004 by Mohamed Ali Harrath, a Tunisian activist and businessman; his son, Mohamed Harrath, is now its chief executive officer. It was reported in 2008 that UK government research found that 59% of British Muslims watched the channel. It broadcasts across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and is streamed live on the internet. Islam Channel began broadcasting in March 2004 on Sky Digital channel 836, but subsequently moved to channel 813, then 806, now 737. In April 2010, it launched on Freesat channel 693. In 2015, Islam Channel Urdu was launched. In 2017, both channels launched on Virgin Media; Islam Channel can be watched on 838 and Islam Channel Urdu on 839. In 2018, Islam Channel Urdu was subsequently moved to channel 851, then 766, now 755. On 18 October 2022, Islam Channel Bangla was launched on Sky 784.
Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International (MTA), a globally-broadcasting, nonprofit satellite television network and a division of Al-Shirkatul Islamiyyah, was established in 1994 and launched the world's first Islamic TV channel to broadcast globally. It serves as the official media outlet for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, based in Islamabad, Tilford and funded entirely from donations by the members of the community. The network operates ten 24-hour channels for different regions of the world, including terrestrial TV as well as satellite television.
Mirza Tahir Ahmad was the fourth caliph and the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He was elected as the fourth successor of the founder of the community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. He was elected on 10 June 1982, the day after the death of his predecessor, Mirza Nasir Ahmad.
Hakeem Noor-ud-Din was a close companion of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement, and his first successor and first Ahmadiyya caliph since 27 May 1908.
Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din was a prominent figure of the early Ahmadiyya movement and the author of numerous works about Islam.
Al-Resalah is an Arabic language satellite television channel "to present true Islam".
Ummah Channel was an Islamic television channel based in the United Kingdom. It launched in August 2009 by replacing 9X's former Sky EPG slot on Sky Digital. It was closed down at the end of 31 July 2017 and is no longer broadcasting.
MTA1 WORLD or just MTA1 is the first television channel of the MTA International satellite network. It was launched on 1 January 1994 and was a continuation of AMP or 'Ahmadiyya Muslim Presentation'. After the launch of sister channels, the channel was renamed as MTA1. However, it is still loosely referred to as MTA or MTA International.
Dawat-e-Islami is a Sunni Islamic organization based in Pakistan. It has several Islamic educational institutions around the world.
Bahishti Maqbara, located originally in Qadian, India, and then in Rabwah, Pakistan, is a religious cemetery established by the Ahmadiyya Community as a directive from the community's founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, made known in his booklet Al-Wasiyyat. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad established it in his will after he saw an angel showing him the place of his burial.
Takbeer TV is a free-to-air Islamic TV Channel based in the United Kingdom. It can be viewed on Sky channel 749 as well as online and by certain satellite services. It was launched at a time when other Islamic channels were also being established.
Haqā'iq al-Furqān is a 4 volume exegesis of the Quran compiled from the discourses and sermons of Hakeem Noor-ud-Din, the first Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The work is in Urdu.
Jāmi’ah al-Ahmadīyyah is an International Islamic seminary and educational institute with campuses in Pakistan, United Kingdom, India, Ghana, Canada, Germany, Nigeria, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, and Kenya. In addition, there are affiliated Mu'alameen centers in Pakistan and Madagascar. Founded in 1906 as a Section in Madrassa Talim ul Islam by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, it is the main centre of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for Islamic learning.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established in United Kingdom was established in July 1913 as one of the oldest Islamic associations in the UK. The community has built its presence with the establishment of significant sites such as The London Mosque in 1926. Over the decades the community has grown and become known for its annual convention the Jalsa Salana, interfaith dialogues and humanitarian efforts. The UK has also served as the headquarters of the community since 1984 currently in Islamabad, Tilford, in Surrey.
Paigham TV is an Islamic educational media group. It launched its Urdu language TV channel in 2011 and Pashto Channel in 2014. Paigham TV was inaugurated by Imam al-Kabah Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais in Harmain Al Sharifain Auditorium. The production of this channel is based on the teachings of Quran and Sunnah. A team of Islamic scholars monitors the material presented on its programs. Each program of Paigham TV is previewed according to authentic references of Quran and Hadith. The Board of Directors, consisting of 14 members from different countries, is working under the supervision of Imam al-Kabah Al-Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, looking after the matters of Paigham TV. Paigham TV is transmitted through Asia Satellite 3S in more than 70 Asian countries and Australia. It can also be watched through live streaming on its official website. Mobile Phone application is also available to watch live streaming.
Television in Saudi Arabia was introduced in 1965, but is now dominated by just five major companies: Middle East Broadcasting Center, SM Enterprise TV, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, Rotana and Saudi TV. Together, they control 80% of the pan-Arab broadcasting market. Saudi Arabia is a major market for pan-Arab satellite and pay-TV. Saudi investors are behind the major networks MBC, which is based in Dubai, and Emirates based OSN. The Saudi government estimated that in 2000 the average Saudi spent 50% to 100% more time watching television than his or her European or US counterpart. On average, 2.7 hours are spent daily watching TV in Saudi Arabia.
British Muslim TV is a UK-based, free-to-air, English language, Islamic-focused satellite television channel funded by commercial advertising.
Nabil Al-Awadi is a Kuwaiti writer, humanitarian, television presenter, university professor, journalist, orator, and he is a Muslim scholar. He had his bachelor's degree in education from the Kuwait University. He traveled to UK to pursue his post-graduate studies and he earned a master's degree in education.