A new channel purporting to be "Sky One from a Muslim perspective" is to launch before the year is out, according to Broadcast.

Bridges TV, based on a US station of the same name, is the brainchild of businessman Haras Rafiq and Ibrar ul-Haq, BA's first Islamic pilot.

Around 75% of content will be acquired, with the remaining 25% being produced in-house at the channel's studios in Rochdale.

Planned programmes include "Muslim equivalents" of Sesame Street and Blue Peter.