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| Channel 4 rejects criticism over Ramadan broadcast | Channel 4 rejects criticism over Ramadan broadcast |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Channel 4 chief David Abraham has defended the decision to broadcast the early morning Muslim call to prayer. | Channel 4 chief David Abraham has defended the decision to broadcast the early morning Muslim call to prayer. |
| Conservative MP Angie Bray called the broadcast at 03:00 BST during Ramadan a "box ticking exercise" that was "patronising to the history of Islam". | Conservative MP Angie Bray called the broadcast at 03:00 BST during Ramadan a "box ticking exercise" that was "patronising to the history of Islam". |
| Speaking at the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Mr Abraham said it was a "thoughtful exercise" as part of Channel 4's remit. | Speaking at the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Mr Abraham said it was a "thoughtful exercise" as part of Channel 4's remit. |
| Chairman Terry Burns added there was "no public outcry" over the broadcast. | Chairman Terry Burns added there was "no public outcry" over the broadcast. |
| "We feel this should not be a hugely controversial issue, certainly not in terms of the remit we have," Lord Burns said. | "We feel this should not be a hugely controversial issue, certainly not in terms of the remit we have," Lord Burns said. |
| But Miss Bray said the public would benefit from "more interesting programmes" rather than an "alternative approach" to the Ramadan season. | But Miss Bray said the public would benefit from "more interesting programmes" rather than an "alternative approach" to the Ramadan season. |
| Mr Abraham told the committee the slot had attracted 186,000 viewers - almost triple its usual audience at that time. | Mr Abraham told the committee the slot had attracted 186,000 viewers - almost triple its usual audience at that time. |
| "The predominance of coverage around the Muslim community is associated with issues that are not positive. This is positive and we should be supported in that," the chief executive said. | "The predominance of coverage around the Muslim community is associated with issues that are not positive. This is positive and we should be supported in that," the chief executive said. |
| Speaking in July about the launch of the broadcast, Ralph Lee, the head of Channel Four's factual programming, said it would "act as a nationwide Tannoy system". | Speaking in July about the launch of the broadcast, Ralph Lee, the head of Channel Four's factual programming, said it would "act as a nationwide Tannoy system". |
| He told the Radio Times it was a form of provocation aimed at those who associate Islam with extremism. | He told the Radio Times it was a form of provocation aimed at those who associate Islam with extremism. |
| Miss Bray, the Conservative MP for Ealing and Acton, questioned Mr Abraham on whether Channel 4 was "patronising" Muslims by airing the ritual in the early hours of the morning when most people would not see it. | |
| Mr Abraham said the timeslot was "just a practicality" of the three-minute call to prayer. | Mr Abraham said the timeslot was "just a practicality" of the three-minute call to prayer. |
| The Commons committee inquisition, which lasted nearly two hours, focussed primarily on Channel 4's annual report, published in May. | The Commons committee inquisition, which lasted nearly two hours, focussed primarily on Channel 4's annual report, published in May. |
| Lord Burns defended paying Mr Abraham his £515,000 salary, which is higher than that of BBC director general Tony Hall at £450,000. | Lord Burns defended paying Mr Abraham his £515,000 salary, which is higher than that of BBC director general Tony Hall at £450,000. |
| He said the pay was below that of other media organisations and "a lot less than what his predecessor received". | He said the pay was below that of other media organisations and "a lot less than what his predecessor received". |