[IMC-Editorial] Press Release: American Muslim TV Channel

[BridgesTV]

FIRST AMERICAN MUSLIM TV CHANNEL ANNOUNCED BY BRIDGES NETWORK.
CHANNEL EXPECTED TO DEBUT SUMMER 2004.

NEW YORK, NY, May 1, 2003--New York-based Bridges Network, Inc.,
announced today that it will launch Bridges TV, the first ever
nationwide English-language Muslim television channel in North
America. The expected launch date is summer 2004, pending how
quickly the network can gather the 10,000 paying members
necessary to demonstrate public support.

Bridges TV, which will be broadcast from Manhattan, will
emphasize news stories, and talk shows, wholesome sitcoms,
advice shows, childrens programming and movies about Muslim
life in America.  Programming will mostly be created, since an
English-language genre targeting American Muslims does not
exist.  

The venture is spearheaded by Muzzammil S. Hassan, MBA, a bank
vice-president in New York and Omar S. Amanat, founder of
Tradescape, an Internet brokerage firm. Mr. Amanat sold
Tradescape last year to E*Trade (NYSE: ET) for $280,000,000
(million).

Amanat learned early on that even at the height of his financial
success on Wall Street, public perceptions of Muslims prevented
him from being fully accepted. 

I realized that the only way to undo misconceptions was to
create our own media forum from which our stories and culture
would be shared with the world.  Other cultural groups have
gained acceptance and increased understanding through the forum
of media.  Why cant Muslims do the same?

Channels such as Telemundo and the Black Entertainment
Television network have appealed to cultural niche markets.
Bridges TV hopes to follow a similar model and create a diverse
genre of programming that members of the American Muslim
community can identify with. That group is composed
approximately one-quarter each of South Asian, African-American,
Arab and Others.

Hassan noted that most members of these groups are moderate
Muslims who cannot identify with the extreme stereotypes often
depicted in Hollywood productions. 

They think they are not accurately portrayed, he said. 
Bridges TV gives American Muslims a voice and will depict them
in everyday, real life situations.

Bridges TV differentiates itself from such foreign language
programming as Zee TV (Hindi), Prime TV (Urdu) and ART TV
(Arabic), which are broadcast in foreign languages and focus on
life experiences in foreign countries. These channels are
popular among immigrant parents, but not with their U.S. born
children. Our channel is in English and about life in America. 
We want a Muslim child who grows up in America to be able to
watch our channel and identify with the characters, or to be
engaged by the dialogue of issues pertinent to him or her, said
Amanat. 

Amanat added that stories that shed light on the significant
contributions of American Muslims to modern science, art and
entertainment remain untold and will be a focus of Bridges TV
programming. The network seeks to feature sitcoms that represent
American Muslim family life. The Cosby Show, which portrayed a
positive representation of African-American family life, is a
model for such sitcom programming.

Creation of a channel that features American Muslims comes at a
time when the media spotlight is increasingly focused on this
population. The channel hopes to build bridges of
understanding by providing Muslims an opportunity to express
their views and opinions about their faith and lifestyle.

Given the estimated eight million Muslims living in North
America, the channel is long overdue, according to network
officials.  And studies sponsored by Bridges TV have found that
American Muslims are willing to pay as much as $10 per month
above and beyond their current cable or satellite fee for the
channel.

According to a Zogby 2000 survey, at an annual growth of 6%, the
American Muslim population, which at present makes a sizable
market, is expected to double to 15 million in the next ten
years.

Although targeted primarily at a North-American Muslim audience,
company officials anticipate that Bridges TV will have some
cross-over appeal to other Americans due to world-wide interest
about Islam and Muslim lifestyles. 

The company successfully completed its first round of
fundraising last year, netting $1,000,000 (million) in seed
capital from investors.  Most of this initial money is being
used to cover legal, filming, marketing and licensing fees. 
With a pledge of financial support from Amanat, the companys
leading investor, the networks next main milestone is securing
the 10,000 paying monthly members necessary to garner cable and
satellite television support. 

Initial projections are to broadcast the channel four to six
hours per day.  Pending advertising revenue and community
support through monthly subscriptions, Bridges TV hopes to
evolve into a full-time nationwide cable television channel. 
Their long-term goal is to gain at least 10% of American Muslim
households as monthly subscribers.

So far the response from potential subscribers has been
overwhelming.  Over 1,000 paying members have signed up in just
one month.

"An American Muslim television channel is the greatest need of
our times, said Amanat.  If American Muslims want to bring this
kind of television programming into their home, we need their
support as members the viability of this project depends on
American Muslims.

###

For more information, photos, bio's and interviews, visit
www.bridges.tv or call:

Omar S. Amanat		Tel.: 917-669-8844   omar at bridges.tv 

Muzzammil Hassan(Mo)	Tel.: 716-308-6593   mhassan at bridges.tv

Omar Ghosheh		Tel.: 716-578-1317   oghosheh at bridges.tv