MTA International

MTA, the first TV channel to broadcast Islamic programmes globally, was established by Mirza Tahir Ahmad, then-Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. MTA's first channel was launched on 31 January 1992, broadcasting the weekly Friday Sermon. On 7 January 1994, AMP was rebranded to MTA and increased its daily broadcasting hours from four to 12 hours, and in April 1996, to 24.[4] Initially, the studio and video library shared a 10 by 10 ft (3.0 by 3.0 m) room in the Mahmood Hall of Fazl Mosque equipped with a single video camera and "few ordinary flood lights".[4]

In April 2001, MTA began its electronic program guide when the channel launched on the Sky UK platform as a free-to-air channel.[4]

On 23rd of March 2007. MTA 3 Al-Arabiya was launched, which was an entirely Arabic channel, primarily for viewers of the Middle East.[5]

On 1 August 2016, MTA Africa 1 and 2 were inaugurated by Mirza Masroor Ahmad,[6][4] broadcasting programmes in African languages as well as programmes from MTA 1.[4]

From 27 May 2020, known as Khilafat Day for Ahmadis, MTA rearranged its channels according to regions and introduced new channels. These new channels were formerly MTA1 broadcasting on different satellites, converted to cater viewers of specific regions by broadcasting programmes in specific languages for each region. MTA 1 on Galaxy 19 became MTA8 HD AMERICA with programmes in Urdu, English, French and Spanish.[7]

• MTA1 World was the first channel launched by the MTA network and is the primary channel broadcasting programmes in English, [[Urdu and occasionally archived programmes in Arabic and French, and has multiple audio tracks to provide translations for certain programmes such as the Friday Sermon. Its broadcast coverage used to cover the entire globe before MTA1 on some satellites were converted into regional channels. It is mainly broadcast in the UK/Europe and parts of South America, as well as being broadcast on terrestrial TV in Suriname.[8]

• MTA2 Europe focuses on programmes aimed specifically at European and Middle Eastern viewers by broadcasting programmes in a range of European languages, commonly French and German, in addition to English and Urdu, some of which are also broadcast on MTA1. It was launched in April 2004. MTA2, too, also has similar audio tracks for translations, similar to MTA1, where the Bengali Track is sometimes switched with Spanish. It is also broadcast in HD on the HotBird 13C and streamed online.
• MTA3 Al-Arabia is an all-Arabic channel launched in March 2007 specifically for Arabic viewers in the Middle East and North Africa.[5] It is also broadcast in other parts of the world such as Europe, Indonesia and North America (where it is broadcast in HD). Initially, it was broadcast on the Egyptian-owned Nilesat 201 before being barred and eventually being broadcast on the European Eutelsat 7 West A instead, in 2008.

MTA Africa-based content is typically produced in the various African studios, such as the Wahab Adam Studios, based in Ghana.[9][10] There are 4 African channels as part of the MTA International network:

• MTA4 Africa (formerly known as MTA Africa 1) is the fourth satellite-based television channel of the MTA International network. It was launched in early August 2016,[11] broadcasting specifically for viewers of Sub-Saharan Africa.[12] The channel is broadcast on the Astra 2F, and is also broadcast on terrestrial TV in Belize. Programmes aired are usually in English, French or Swahili language.
• MTA5 Africa is a sister channel to MTA4, launched alongside it, and is primarily for the viewers of West Africa and airs programmes in a number of African languages, notably Hausa, Krio, Twi and Yoruba. It is the former MTA Africa 2 channel.

• MTA Ghana is a terrestrial channel and the first country-exclusive channel part of the MTA network which aims to air programmes specifically for Ghanaian viewers. It was launched in January 2021 and broadcasts programmes in English and local languages, like Twi and Hausa.[13]

• MTA6 Asia broadcasts programs which are specific to Pakistan (and by extension South Asia) and Indonesia. It airs programmes in Urdu, English and Indonesian, with some programs carrying additional translations in other languages, like Bengali.
• MTA7 Asia primarily caters to the viewers of the Indian subcontinent, as it airs programs specific to the region. The channel also provides translations and content in local languages such as Bengali, Malayalam and Tamil.

• MTA8 America is broadcast in North America, with content in English and Urdu as well as French and Spanish.