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Quality Delivers Quantity for the Islam Channel

After migrating to a higher quality media streaming, the Islam Channel’s online audience has doubled in size. The TV station’s recent shift from a 100Kbps to 500kbps stream has seen a considerable improvement in the on-screen experience – even full screen – and the reaction has been overwhelmingly positively, with record numbers of viewers connecting with the programming.

Now, with Sharpstream’s online platform in place, the Islam Channel has a means of communicating with new audiences and a way of connecting with existing audiences on a variety of connected devices, including iPhones, iPads and androids. The success has been phenomenal: during the month of Ramadan Islam Channel online  was viewed over 200,000 times, totalling over 43,000 viewing hours. During Eid ul Adha celebrations over 28,000 connections were made on the Saturday alone.

An ethos Islam Channel firmly stands by is to cater for the needs of its viewers. There was a clear demand from the audience for online viewing that matched the quality of the televised service. After much research, collaborating with Sharpstream was an obvious solution.

Until recently the Islam Channel was streaming live television in Windows Media format. After a number of trials, the Islam Channel appointed Sharpstream to improve the quality of its service. Now encoded to Adobe Flash video, the output is delivered 24 hours a day via www.islamchannel.tv.

Farrah Aziz of the Islam Channel notes: “There has been a real improvement in the video quality and audience numbers and we are excited to start using Sharpstream’s analysis tools to delve deep into our audience’s viewing habits.”

The channel’s goal has always been to produce quality media in order to appeal to a global audience and attract viewers of all ages. Its commercial and popular success has been predicated on the quality and relevance of its programming and the reach of its broadcast network. For years the station has transmitted to over 135 countries globally – across Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. Thanks to Sharpstream, the channel has a truly global reach and a quality of online service that will engage with even the most demanding connected audiences.

“Audience reaction has been great. The recent Hajj coverage received an exceptional response from viewers of all ages who were inspired to embark on this epic and symbolic journey. The feedback through online social media and emails has been enriching. This year we have been receiving tweets from as far as Canada, where Islam Channel is now available online – what the channel can now offer is limitless. ” says Aziz.