Bridges TV Expands to Basic Cable and into Canada

Bridges TV Expands to Basic Cable and into Canada

Expansion gives unprecedented voice to Arab and Muslim Americans/Canadians

DETROIT, April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridges TV has transitioned from a premium pay channel to basic cable on several cable and satellite systems, including WOW! Cable, Buckeye Cable, Shrewsbury Cable, Verizon FiOS TV and Globecast Satellite. This covers cable markets in Detroit, Chicago, Toledo, Columbus, Boston, Dallas, Tampa and Washington D.C. Bridges TV has also been approved by the Canadian Radio & Television Commission (CRTC) to start broadcasting in Canada, where it will soon launch on Rogers Cable. The Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan has made this expansion possible with a charter sponsorship.

The launch of Bridges TV as a free channel on basic cable comes at a time when Middle Eastern and South Asian communities around the world are in the spotlight. 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.

Brad Mefferd, Chief Operating Officer of Buckeye Cable in Toledo, Ohio, said that the launch of Bridges TV as a free basic channel allows the network to reach a much wider audience while also appealing to the desires of Americans for greater understanding of the Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures: "If the network can bridge gaps of understanding between the West and the East, then we have provided a great service to the world."

On Monday, May 15th at 8 pm ET, Bridges TV will make yet another history. Paul Moskal, the Chief Legal Counsel for the FBI in New York, will hold an FBI Townhall Meeting exclusively on Bridges TV. Mr. Moskal will take direct questions from Muslim and Arab Americans on national television. And on Sunday, May 14th, Bridges TV will hold the cable TV premiere of PBS hit movie Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet. 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.

Rabbi Bob Alper, a stand-up comic who performs One Jew, One Arab, One Stage with Ahmed Ahmed, an American Muslim comic, was a recent guest on Bridges TV. "In a world made gloomy by rampant hatred and misunderstanding, I am thrilled that American Muslims can now view a friendly, funny rabbi. I firmly believe that it's impossible to hate someone with whom you've laughed," said Rabbi Bob Alper.

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.

"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." Mirza added, "Americans are increasingly interested in better understanding Middle Eastern cultures, and Muslim Americans want to be better understood. Bridges TV creates a public platform for this dialog."

World heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali showed his support for the network as he helped launch Bridges TV last year in Chicago. Ali believes that Bridges TV will help to overcome the erroneous image of Muslim Americans. "Let the rest of America get to know us the way they would get to know their next-door neighbor. I hope Bridges TV will be very successful for the sake of all Americans," he added.

Bridges TV News Director Nancy Sanders, formerly of WKBW-TV, the ABC news affiliate in Buffalo, NY, said that Bridges TV has made great strides in getting views not normally taken in the mainstream news. As an example, she cites Bridges News' extensive coverage of the humanitarian efforts of major American organizations to help earthquake victims in Pakistan and India. "We've been able to get into the hearts and minds of communities forgotten or overlooked by major media operations by covering cultural events and seeking opinions whenever any major news story breaks," she added.

About Bridges TV

To request a DVD about Bridges TV, email hbaliwala@bridgestv.com or call 716-812-6972.

For high-resolution photographs, please visit http://www.bridgestv.com/pictures.asp.

Contacts:

Mo S. Hassan, CEO, Bridges TV: 716-308-6593 (c);
716-662-5321 (w); mohassan@bridgestv.com

Mary Kantowski, Admin, Bridges TV: 716-961-3140;
marykan@bridgestv.com

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.

Source: Bridges TV

CONTACT: Mo S. Hassan, CEO, +1-716-308-6593 (c), +1-716-662-5321 (w), or
mohassan@bridgestv.com, or Mary Kantowski, Admin, +1-716-961-3140, or
marykan@bridgestv.com, both of Bridges TV

Web site: http://www.bridgestv.com/

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