Home About Contact Omar Amanat The recent announcement that Bridges TV was expanding its coverage into six states with a potential audience of 2 million viewers was gratifying news for entrepreneur Omar Amanat. Bridges TV, America’s first Islamic TV station dedicated to improving the image of Muslims in the U.S., was launched in 2004 to both acclaim and anti-Islamic criticism. But for Mr. Amanat, a Bridges TV financier, the station’s success confirms his belief in the need for positive minority images in a time of global strife. Bridges TV began as a collaborative effort between Mr. Amanat and CEO Muzzammil "Mo" Hassan. It broadcasts news and current events programs, sitcoms, and family and cultural programs. For Mr. Amanat, the inspiration for the Islamic network started with the events of 9/11. In the aftermath of the attacks, he read a book titled Black Rage, an important study of African-American violence and extremism and the way media images affect the self-esteem and identity of individuals in minority groups. Another book, Reel Bad Arabs, detailed the abundance of negative stereotypes in the Western film industry. Equipped with a new understanding of the link between media images and minority violence, Mr. Amanat was determined to help improve relations between the Eastern and Western worlds. As a model, he had the experience of the African-American community, which benefited in the 1980s from the positive media images provided by the Black Entertainment Television (BET) network and The Cosby Show. Since the launch of Bridges TV, Mr. Amanat has expanded the scope of his socially-conscious media ventures to include film production and distribution companies. He is a co-founder of Blue Planet Films, LLC, and a primary investor in Groundswell Productions. For more information about Bridges TV, please visit www.BridgesTV.com. For more information on Mr. Amanat and his numerous media projects, please visit www.OmarAmanat.com.