| Type | Satellite television |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Availability | North America, Europe, Iran |
| Founded | by Mohammad Hedayati |
| Launch date | February 12, 2005 (television) |
| Former names | None |
| Official website | www.salaamtv.org |
Salaam TV is an independent satellite television channel committed to providing Shia Islamic programming. Salaam TV was established in early 2005; its launch date intentionally coincided with the Eid of Ghadeer. The channel's producers strongly maintains that it is unaffiliated with any political groups or external organizations as its sole goal is providing apolitical Islamic programming.
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Salaam TV was originally available through satellite television throughout most of North America (specifically, the United States and Canada). Some argue that Salaam TV was always available internationally as the channel's live programming could (and still can) be viewed free of charge virtually anywhere in the world through the official Salaam TV website.[1] On May 22, 2006 Salaam TV was finally available through satellite television in Europe and Iran through Hot Bird.
Throughout Salaam TV's first year, 2005, most of the channel's programs have been provided in English and Persian (aside from the Qur'anic recitations, Islamic prayers, and supplications, which are always recited in Arabic), although on January 14, 2006, Salaam TV founder Hajj Sheikh Mohammad Hedayati announced that efforts were being made to increase programming in other languages including Arabic, Urdu, and Azari. As of January, 2006, the official Salaam TV website [2] has been available in Arabic, English, and Persian.
Although there have been numerous false claims that Salaam TV receives its funding from political organiziations, such as the Islamic Republic of Iran, Salaam TV's expenses are purely provided by philanthropists who donate money, primarily through telethon events. In its first year, 2005, Salaam TV has held two telethons, during which callers called and donated money to support the channel's programming.
In order to maintain a purely Islamic tone to the channel, none of Salaam TV's programming include music, as some Muslims maintain that music should not be played, especially in religious environments. Instead, the producers have opted to use sounds from nature, such as bird song, during the interludes between regular programming. This is a far tighter standard than national/governmental media of Islamic countries.
In Europe & Middle East: