RICU – Research, Information and Communications Unit

British Muslim Media

Consumption Report
March 2010
(Research completed June 2008)
Beginning of report
British Muslim Media
Consumption Report
March 2010
(Research completed June 2008)
CONTEST, the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy, aims to reduce the risk to the UK and its interests from
international terrorism, so that people can go about their daily lives freely and with confidence. It details the
terrorist threat we face and how it has evolved, and sets out the principles that govern our response to this
threat, our achievements to date, the challenges, and what we intend to do next.

CONTEST comprises four principal workstreams, each with a clear objective:

●● Pursue – To stop terrorist attacks.

●● Prevent – To stop people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism.
●● Protect – To strengthen our protection against terrorist attacks.
●● Prepare – Where an attack cannot be stopped, to mitigate its impact.

A copy of the CONTEST strategy is available on the Home Office website:

http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/general/HO_Contest_strategy/HO_
Contest_strategy22835.pdf?view=Binary

The Research, Information and Communications Unit (RICU) was established in June 2007 and is staffed and
directed by CLG, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office. The unit forms part of the Office
for Security and Counter Terrorism in the Home Office and supports the delivery of CONTEST.

The purpose of RICU is to ensure that the UK Government communicates effectively to reduce the risk of
terrorism, by:

●● advising CONTEST partners on their counter-terrorism-related communications

●● using communications to expose the weaknesses of violent extremist ideologies and brands, and
●● using communications to support credible alternatives to violent extremism.

Fundamental to achieving RICU’s objectives is the commissioning of communications research which provides
Government with an evidence base upon which it can effectively communicate all aspects of its CT strategy to a
variety of audiences.

The overarching objectives of RICU’s research programme are to: understand the audiences that Government
is talking to; understand the impact of the message content, and the language used by Government when
discussing CT-related issues; identify which channels are most effective in helping Government to reach
audiences and to ensure that messages resonant effectively; and evaluate the impact of Government’s CT
communications.

Disclaimer
The research was carried out by TNS. The views expressed are those of the authors and are not necessarily
shared by the Home Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office or Department for Communities and Local
Government (nor do they represent Government policy).

© Crown Copyright 2010

Extracts from this document may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes on condition that the source is
acknowledged.

This information is also available on the Home Office website:

http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk

First Published: March 2010

Research completed: June 2008

ISSN 2042-8251 ISBN 978-1-84987-160-0

 March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Contents

1. Executive summary........................................................................................................................................ 1
Setting the scene................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Media consumption – television...................................................................................................................................................... 2
Media consumption – other media................................................................................................................................................ 3
2. Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 5
Background............................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Research objectives.............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Research method.................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
3. Setting the scene............................................................................................................................................ 8
Demographic profile............................................................................................................................................................................ 8
How long resided in UK....................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Other Muslims – country of birth.................................................................................................................................................. 11
Languages spoken.............................................................................................................................................................................. 11
Languages consume media in ...................................................................................................................................................... 14
Religious and cultural behaviour................................................................................................................................................... 16
4. General concerns.......................................................................................................................................... 19
5. General interests........................................................................................................................................... 22
General Interests..................................................................................................................................................................................22
Interest in key types of information ............................................................................................................................................23
6. General media consumption....................................................................................................................... 25
Media reach summary.......................................................................................................................................................................25
Types of television received ...........................................................................................................................................................25
Types of TV programmes usually watched................................................................................................................................26
TV channels watched nowadays....................................................................................................................................................29
TV programmes usually watched..................................................................................................................................................32
TV programmes would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims.................................................................................33
Radio stations listened to/frequency of listening....................................................................................................................33
Newspapers read/frequency of reading.....................................................................................................................................35
Magazines read/frequency of reading .......................................................................................................................................37
Internet access, forums/blogs and website usage .................................................................................................................38
7. Information sources used to find out about interest areas...................................................................... 43
Reminder: Interest in key types of information........................................................................................................................43
Media used for different types of information.........................................................................................................................43
8. Information sources used to find out about interest areas...................................................................... 47
APPENDIX 1: Special interest groups and other channels by media............................................................. 49
Examples of findings..........................................................................................................................................................................49
Other channels by media ................................................................................................................................................................52

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 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Tables
Table 1: Sample profile and weighting............................................................................................................................... 6
Table 2: Language interview conducted in
1 in 10 interviews conducted in non-English language.............................................................................. 6
Table 3: Demographic profile (1) of British Muslim sample compared to general population...................... 8
Table 4: Profile of sample by social grade and employment status
Demographic profile (2).......................................................................................................................................... 9
Table 5: Generation of immigrant and length of time in the UK/whether born in UK..................................... 9
Table 6: Demographic profile by ethnicity...................................................................................................................... 10
Table 7: Other Muslims – country of birth....................................................................................................................... 11
Table 8: English regularly spoken/main language........................................................................................................ 12
Table 9: Languages regularly spoken at home by ethnic group............................................................................. 13
Table 10: Languages used for watching TV/listening to radio................................................................................... 15
Table 11: Languages used for reading print media and websites............................................................................ 16
Table 12: Profile of those who watch TV channels daily...............................................................................................29
Table 13: TV channels watched by ethnic group (1).......................................................................................................30
Table 14: TV channels watched by ethnic group (2)...................................................................................................... 31
Table 15: Radio stations listened to by ethnic group.....................................................................................................35
Table 16: Newspaper readership by ethnic group..........................................................................................................37
Table 17: Media used for different types of information.............................................................................................44
Table 18: Subgroups’ use of media to find out about key types of information
Higher Amongst.......................................................................................................................................................44
Table 19: TV channels used to find out about key types of information (1)..........................................................46

Figures
Figure 1: Subgroups for analysis............................................................................................................................................. 7
Figure 2: Languages regularly spoken/main language................................................................................................ 12
Figure 3: Languages used for media consumption....................................................................................................... 14
Figure 4: Religious/cultural behaviour................................................................................................................................ 17
Figure 5: Differences in level of observance by ethnic group
Religious/cultural behaviour................................................................................................................................ 18
Figure 6: Respondents’ major concerns............................................................................................................................. 19
Figure 7: British Muslims’ major concerns compared to those of the general population.............................20
Figure 8: Major concerns by ethnic group........................................................................................................................ 21
Figure 9: Respondents’ general interests..........................................................................................................................22
Figure 10: Interest in key types of information..................................................................................................................23
Figure 11: Overview of media reach among British Muslims.......................................................................................25
Figure 12: Types of television received ................................................................................................................................26
Figure 13: TV programmes usually watched by five per cent of more of sample.................................................27
Figure 14: TV programmes watched by demographic subgroups.............................................................................27
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Figure 15: TV programmes watched – key differences by ethnic group..................................................................28
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Figure 16: TV channels watched and frequency...............................................................................................................28

Figure 17: TV programmes usually watched......................................................................................................................32
Figure 18: TV programmes would watch if specific issue of interest.........................................................................33
Figure 19: Radio stations listened to and frequency.......................................................................................................34
Figure 20: Newspapers read and frequency.......................................................................................................................36
Figure 21: Magazines read.........................................................................................................................................................38
Figure 22: Internet access..........................................................................................................................................................39
Figure 23: Participation in discussion forums and blogs................................................................................................40
Figure 24: Types of websites visited....................................................................................................................................... 41
Figure 25: Websites visited and frequency..........................................................................................................................42
Figure 26: Interest in key types of information..................................................................................................................43
Figure 27: Key differences in channel use by ethnic group...........................................................................................45
Figure 28: Trusted sources of information...........................................................................................................................47
Figure 29: Non-trusted sources of information.................................................................................................................48
Figure A1.1: Q25 – TV channels watched nowadays...........................................................................................................52
Figure A1.2: Q28 – Radio stations listened to nowadays....................................................................................................53
Figure A1.3: Q30 – Newspapers read nowadays...................................................................................................................53
Figure A1.4: Q32 – Magazines read nowadays . ....................................................................................................................54
Figure A1.5: Q35 – Websites visited more than once...........................................................................................................54

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 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

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March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report
1. Executive summary
Setting the scene
Country of birth
Nearly two-thirds of respondents (65%) were born
outside the UK. Even where they were born in
this country, the vast majority had parents born
elsewhere. Among those born outside the UK there
was an even spread in terms of when they had
arrived, ranging from less than five years ago to 30
years or more ago.
Language
English was regularly spoken at home by nearly
three-quarters of those interviewed (72%) and was
the main language for about half of them (and for
38% of the sample as a whole). Three out of five were
multilingual.
English was more likely to be spoken among younger
(16- to 34-year-olds – 83%) and more highly educated
respondents (81%); and those who had lived here
longest (30+ years – 81%).
The Turkish/Kurdish ethnic group was least likely
to speak English regularly (59%) or as their main
language (28%). Iraqis (20%), Somalis/Other East
Africans (19%) and North Africans (22%) were also less
likely to have English as their main language.
There was a high level of media consumption in
English (86% TV/radio; 81% written media). Urdu was
the next most commonly used language (35% TV/
radio; 24% written media).
Unsurprisingly, the groups that were more likely to
consume media in English matched those more likely
to speak English.
Religious and cultural behaviour
Those interviewed generally observed many of the
religious behaviours, with nearly two-thirds (65%)
giving the most observant response on at least three
out of the five behaviours. Four out of five (80%)
claimed to only ever eat Halal food; three-quarters
observed all the Ramadan/Lent fasts (75%) and three
out of five prayed at home every day (60%).
Looking at the subgroups, women (68%), those aged
over 35 (68%) and first-generation immigrants (67%)
were more likely to pray every day. Males (53%) and
those aged 45+ (49%) were more likely to go to the
mosque/church more than once a week. Women
(46%) and those aged 45+ (45%) were more likely
always to wear traditional clothes.
Turkish/Kurdish respondents were least likely of
all the ethnic groups to observe all of the religious
behaviours.
Concerns and topics of interest
When shown a list of possible concerns and asked
which they felt they were facing today, crime was
mentioned by the highest proportion of respondents
(31%) followed by drugs (26%) – and indeed these
were the main concerns for the general population
(35% and 25% respectively). Discrimination was of
greater interest to British Muslims (mentioned by
13% versus only 5% of the population as a whole),
but immigration, pensions and provision of health
services/the NHS were relatively lesser concerns for
this audience than for the population.
However, looking at the subgroups, immigration was
of greater concern to Iraqis (20%) and to those who
had been in the UK the shortest time (five years or less
– 18%). Drugs were of greater concern to Pakistanis
(36%) and standards in education to Bangladeshis
(16%).
Religion and culture was the main topic of interest
1
to British Muslims (58%). World and British news
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010
were mentioned by 39 per cent and 30 per cent
respectively, sport by 39 per cent and entertainment
by 35 per cent. The Turkish/Kurdish group was least
interested in religion/culture (40%).
Interest in key types of information
When asked to rate their level of interest in the four
key areas, nine out of ten respondents (92%) said they
were interested in their religion and culture. Slightly
fewer were interested in domestic or international
news (82% in each case) and three-quarters (76%)
were interested in entertainment.
All other ethnic groups were more likely to be
interested in religion and culture compared to the
Turkish/Kurdish group (43%) and Iraqis (48%).
Those who were more highly educated, for example
with a degree, were more likely to be interested in
news (domestic – 89% and international – 90%).
Younger respondents were more likely to be
interested in entertainment (85%), while those aged
25–44 years were more likely to be interested in
domestic news (87%).
Media consumption – television
Types of television
About four out of five respondents (83%) received
some form of multi-channel TV, with Sky satellite
TV the most common type (53%). Bangladeshis and
Pakistanis were more likely to receive Sky (71% and
64% respectively). Turkish/Kurdish respondents, North
Africans and Iraqis were more likely to have other
forms of satellite TV (45%, 33% and 30% respectively).
Types of TV programmes watched
The vast majority of those interviewed watched any
TV (93%). Films were most popular (50%), followed by
news/weather (38%) and football (36%). Around three
out of ten (29%) watched religious programmes.
2
Films, music and comedies were more likely to be
watched by younger respondents and those very
interested in entertainment. Religious programmes
were more likely to be watched by those aged 45–54
(41%) and those very interested in religion and culture
(39%).
TV channels watched/frequency
The five main terrestrial channels were generally the
most likely to be watched, with BBC One watched by
the highest proportion (53%). Around three out of
five respondents (59%) watched any specialist ethnic
minority channels – the Islam Channel was most likely
to be watched (27%). News channels also had notable
levels of mentions (BBC News 24 – 24%; Sky News –
22%).
Looking at frequency, news channels (BBC News 24
and Sky News), GEO TV and Zee TV were most likely to
be watched daily.
TV programmes watched
From a prompted list of TV programmes, EastEnders
was the soap opera most likely to be watched (33%)
and was in fact the most mentioned programme.
Crimewatch was viewed by a similar number of
respondents (31%).
There were gender differences between these
programmes, with EastEnders higher among
females (44%) and Crimewatch higher among males
(36%). EastEnders was more likely to be watched
by Pakistanis (40%) and Bangladeshis (37%), while
Crimewatch was more likely to be watched by
Pakistanis (33%) and other Muslims (38%).
TV programmes would watch if featured
issues affecting Muslims
Panorama was the programme most likely to be
watched (if not currently watched) if it featured
such an issue, being mentioned by 17 per cent
of respondents. Newsnight was mentioned by
somewhat fewer respondents (12%).
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Media consumption – other media
Radio
About half of respondents (46%) listened to any radio
stations. BBC Asian Network (11%), BBC Radio 1 (9%)
and Sunrise Radio (9%) were most likely to be listened
to. Although they had fewer listeners, Kiss 100 FM and
BBC Five Live (7% and 5% respectively) were most
likely to be listened to daily.
Pakistanis were more likely to listen to BBC Asian
Network (17%) and Sunrise Radio (15%). Those
educated to degree level or above were more likely to
listen to Radio 1 (18%).
Print
Just over two-thirds of respondents (67%) read any
newspapers. Metro had the highest readership at 24
per cent (due to the concentration of Muslims in city
areas).
The Sun was the tabloid with the highest readership
(17%) and among broadsheets The Guardian (6%) was
mentioned by more than any other. The Daily Jang
was the specialist ethnic minority paper with the
highest level of mentions (5%).
accessed the Internet every day. The majority (88%)
had access at home.
Those aged 16–24 and with English as their main
language were more likely to have Internet access
(83% and 72% respectively) and to access it daily (76%
and 66% respectively).
Looking at the ethnic groups, North Africans were
most likely to have Internet access (77%). Somalis/East
Africans were more likely to access the Internet in a
public place (29%).
Only a minority of those with Internet access (8%)
used discussion forums or blogs.
Education (27%), music (23%), news (23%), recruitment
(22%) and sports (22%) websites were more likely to
be visited. Education-site use was higher among those
aged 16–24 (37%), with a degree or above (38%) and
if the respondent had been in the UK five years or less
(44%). It is possible that some of these respondents
had come to the UK specifically to study.
Use of recruitment websites was higher among those
aged 25–34 (28%), with a degree or above (40%) and
those who had been in the UK five years or less (40%).

Younger respondents (16–34 – 30%) and those with a

Google was the website most likely to be visited
degree (40%) were more likely to read Metro. Somalis/
(68%), followed by YouTube (43%) and Yahoo (35%).
East Africans (39%), North Africans (37%) and Iraqis
Some 16 per cent had visited any ethnic minority site.
(36%) were more likely to read Metro, while those in
Somalis/East Africans and North Africans were more
the Turkish/Kurdish group were more likely to read
likely to visit ethnic minority sites, particularly Islam
The Sun (30%).
Online and Al Jazeera (Arabic and English).

About a quarter of respondents read any magazines

(27%) – lower than for other media but in line with the
general population. OK, Hello and Asian Woman were
the most popular titles, although each was mentioned
by only four per cent of those interviewed.
Internet
Roughly three out of five respondents (61%) had
Internet access – roughly in line with the general
population (66%). Over half of these people (58%)
Channel usage for different information types
Television was the key channel for all types of
information. There was higher usage of television
for international news (74%) than for domestic news
(63%), entertainment (62%) or religion/culture (59%).
Newspapers were used primarily for domestic news
information (43%), but also for international news
(29%).
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 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010
Those seeking information about religion or culture
were more likely to use a range of less mainstream or
specialist/ethnic minority media channels (33%).
Radio was used by around one in ten respondents and
consistently for all types of information.
Younger respondents were more likely to use the
Internet for all types of information; those in the
middle age groups were more likely to listen to radio.
Males were more likely than females to use the
Internet for all types of information. Those who had
been in the UK for five years or less were more likely to
use the Internet for all types of information.
Trust in media channels
Word-of-mouth channels were the most trusted for
information on religion and culture – over half would
4
get information from their parents (54%) and just
under half would get information from community
leaders or Islamic books/DVDs (47%).
Television was the most trusted source of information
for international news (47%) and also entertainment
(39%). The most trusted sources of information for
domestic news were newspapers (35%) and television
(33%).
The least trusted source of information on religion and
culture was the Government or any agency associated
with it i.e. police, local government (26%).
In addition, around one in five of those interested
in religious/cultural information, domestic or
international news do not trust newspapers or the
Internet for these types of information.
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report
2. Introduction
Background
In order to inform their media activity and be able to
strategically plan counter-terrorism communications,
the Home Office and RICU need to understand the
media consumption of British Muslim adults, covering
a number of key audience groups. It is not possible to
use mainstream media planning tools for this purpose
as respondents are not asked to state their religion
or the number of Muslim respondents included is
insufficient.
As such TNS has undertaken a quantitative survey
of the UK British Muslim population on behalf of
the Home Office and RICU to provide an informed
map of influential media channels by relevant socio-
demographic, cultural, attitudinal and regional
breakdowns.
Research objectives
The over-arching objective of this study was to
provide a detailed understanding of the media
consumption patterns of the British Muslim
community. More specifically it aimed to provide an
understanding of:
●● what media sources and channels are used to find
out about:
■■ religious and cultural issues;
■■ domestic and international news;
■■ entertainment;
●● overall levels of interest in finding out about each of
these areas and patterns of information seeking for
each;
●● the extent to which people engage and interact
with their media channels;
●● how interest levels and media consumption
patterns differ by specific subgroups within the
Muslim community; and
●● views about the trustworthiness and credibility of
different sources of information for different issues.
Research method
Fieldwork was conducted face to face in respondents’
homes using CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal
Interviewing) between 28 February and 1 April 2008.
The research was composed of a base sample
representative of the British Muslim population so
that the survey results are fully representative of the
diversity of the Muslim population in Britain.
To enable analysis of the results by ethnic group
(Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Iraqi, Somali or Other East
African, North African and Turkish/Kurdish), boost
samples were conducted to achieve a minimum of 100
interviews in each of these groups. The exceptions
were Pakistanis and Bangladeshis for whom the
representative sample yielded sufficient interviews.
The 2001 Census data were used as the basis for
sampling (although it is somewhat out of date there
is no better or more recent source of comprehensive
national data on ethnicity, religion and country of
birth).
Respondents for the base sample were selected using
a random location sampling method within wards
with five per cent or more Muslim residents. Between
them these wards contain 72.5 per cent of the Muslim
population. This level of coverage was selected to
ensure the sample had good coverage of the range
of the Muslim population, including those who live
in more mixed communities. Quotas were set on
gender and age, to be representative of the Muslim
population. Quotas were also set for the different
subgroups, reflecting the local population in the
sampled wards.
Sample points for the boost interviews were selected
from the wards with the largest populations of each
ethnic group.
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 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Table 1: Sample profile and weighting

Sex: Unweighted % Weighted %
Male 52 52
Female 48 48
Age:
16 - 24 20 28
25 - 49 57 55
50+ 23 17
Region:
North 21 27
London 58 44
South / Midlands 21 29
Ethnic origin:
Pakistani 27 43
Bangladeshi 11 17
Turkish / Kurdish 11 4
Somali or other East African 16 3
Iraqi 12 3
North African 13 5
Other Muslim 13 27

Respondents were allocated to an ethnic group based The sample profiles both unweighted and weighted
on their own self-classification. are shown in Table 1.

The boost samples were weighted back to their
correct proportions using the 2001 Census data to
ensure a representative sample of British Muslims for
analysis. A total of 1,124 interviews were achieved with
British Muslim adults aged 16+ years in the UK.
Respondents were given the option of completing
an interview in English, Urdu, Bengali or Somali. The
numbers of respondents completing the interview in
each language are illustrated in Table 2.

Table 2: Language interview conducted in

1 in 10 interviews conducted in non-English language
Somali/
North Turkish/ Other
% Total Pakistani Bangladeshi Iraqi Other East
African Kurdish Muslim
African
Base (1124) (306) (124) (133) (175) (145) (126) (144)
English
90 85 89 100 78 99 100 96
only
Non-
English 10 15 11 - 22 1 - 4
(Net)
Urdu 7 14 - - - - - 4
Bengali 2 - 10 - - 1 - -
6 Somali 1 1 - - 22 - - -
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Figure 1: Subgroups for analysis

Region
Age Scotland, North East, North West/North Wales, Total North
Gender 16-24, 25-34, 35- (=North East or North West/North Wales), West Midlands,
44, 45-54, 55+ East Midlands, Total East (=East Midlands or North East),
South West/South Wales, London/South East

Educational Attainment
Ethnic Groups
Degree or above (=degree or higher degree), GCSE + Degree
Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Iraqi, Somali/
- (=Diploma, A/AS level or trade apprenticeship), GCSE + (=
Other East African, North African,
Diploma, A/AS level or trade apprenticeship, degree or higher
Turkish/Kurdish, Other Muslims
degree), GCSE, None (=none of these)

Number of years in the UK
5 years or less, 6-10 years,
11-20 years, 21-30 years, 30+ years
Generation of immigrant
1st generation (=born outside UK), 2nd generation (=born in
UK, mother or father born outside UK),
NB Base size of 3rd generation (=born in UK and mother and
father born in UK) too low for analysis

Languages
Total speak English, Speak English only, Multilingual (=speak English and other language), Don’t speak
English, English main language, English 2nd language (=speak English but not main language)

Significant differences (at 95% level) have been

indicated (where relevant) between subgroups.
Where figures are significantly different this has been
denoted by a circle (significantly higher) and a square
(significantly lower).

The subgroups covered within the analysis and their

definitions for reference are shown in Figure 1.

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 British Muslim Media Consumption Report June 2008

3. Setting the scene

In this chapter, the demographics of the sample are Relatively few British Muslims were aged 50 or over
discussed, together with how long respondents have – only 17 per cent compared to 42 per cent of the
lived in the UK and their use of English and other population.
languages.
There is a strong concentration of British Muslims in
Demographic profile London (44%, compared to only 13% of the general
population). Far more live in London than in any other
Table 3 shows the gender, age and regional profile
region or area. Outside London, British Muslims were
of the British Muslim sample, compared to that
in broad terms evenly distributed across the North
of the general population, (taken from the BARB
(27%) and the South/Midlands (29%).
Establishment Survey from the two years ending
December 2006).
Table 4 examines the profile of the sample in terms of
social grade and employment status.
The gender profile of British Muslims was very
similar to that of the general population. There were,
The British Muslim population has a strong bias
however, significant differences in terms of age,
towards social grades DE, with almost half of those
with British Muslims in general younger than the
interviewed (47%) in these social grade groupings,
population as a whole. In the general population,
compared to 30 per cent of the general population.
some 14 per cent were aged 16–24, but among British
The proportion of British Muslims in social grades C1
Muslims there were double the number in this age
and C2 is very similar to that in the population as a
group (28%).
whole. Very few are classified as ABs – only eight per
cent compared to 22 per cent of the population.
The difference in the number of 25- to 49-year-olds
was somewhat less marked, although again there
Their employment profile is also rather different from
were more British Muslims in this group (55%) than
that of the population as a whole, with fewer in full-
there were members of the general population (44%).

Table 3: Demographic profile (1) of British Muslim sample compared to general

population
Sex: British Muslims % General Population* %
Male 52 49
Female 48 51
Age:
16 - 24 28 14
25 - 49 55 44
50+ 17 42
Region:
North 27 34
London 44 13
South/Midlands 29 53
88 *BARB Establishment Survey 2 years ending Dec 06
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Table 4: Profile of sample by social grade and employment status

Demographic profile (2)
Social Grade British Muslims % General Population* %
AB 8 22
C1 27 28
C2 18 21
DE 47 30
Employment Status
Full time 29 46
Part time 12 10
Student 17 7
Not in paid work 42 37
*BARB Establishment Survey 2 years ending Dec 06

time work (29%, as compared to 46% of the general generation immigrants i.e. they had been born here,
population) and more students (17%, versus only 7%). but their parent(s) had been born outside the UK.
Thus the vast majority had parents born outside the
How long resided in UK UK.

Respondents were asked in what year they had first

Only a tiny minority (4%) were third-generation
come to the UK, their country of birth and that of their
immigrants.
parents to determine what generation of immigrant
they were. This is shown in Table 5.
Those interviewed represented a wide spread of time
spent residing in the UK. Just under a fifth of those
A substantial proportion of the British Muslims
not born in the UK (17%) had been here for five years
interviewed were relatively recent immigrants –
or less and the same proportion (19%) had been here
almost two-thirds (65%) had been born outside the
for six to ten years. The same was true for each of the
UK and were the first generation of their family to
other five-year time bands, right up to a fifth (21%)
live here. Just over a quarter (27%) were second-

Table 5: Generation of immigrant and length of time in the UK/whether born in UK

Generation of immigrant %
1st generation (Born outside UK) 65
2nd generation (Born in UK/father & mother born outside UK) 27
3rd generation (Born in UK/father or mother born in UK) 4
Length of time in the UK % of those not born in UK (866)
5 years or less 17
6-10 years 19
11-20 years 22
21-30 years 16
More than 30 years 21
Source: Q6 In what country were you born? Q60 In what country was your father born? Q61 And in what country was your
mother born? Q7 And in what year did you FIRST come to the UK to live or to work?
Base: All respondents (1124) – Length of time in UK % of those not born in UK (866) 9
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Table 6: Demographic profile by ethnicity

Somali/
Other North Turkish/ Other
% Total Pakistani Bangladeshi Iraqi
East African Kurdish Muslim
African
(1124) (306) (124) (133) (175) (145) (126) (144)
Generation of immigrant
1st generation
65 63 68 93 94 90 87 51
(Born outside UK)
2nd generation
(Born in UK/father
27 33 26 5 5 7 11 29
& mother born
outside UK)
3rd generation
(Born in UK/father
4 1 1 - - 2 2 11
or mother born in
UK)
Length of time in the UK
5 years or less 17 15 9 20 16 29 16 22
6-10 years 19 17 16 34 32 19 22 19
11-20 years 22 21 19 34 40 28 38 15
21-30 years 16 12 34 4 5 9 13 13
More than 30 years 21 29 15 1 4 8 10 22
Source: Q6 In what country were you born? Q60 In what country was your father born? Q61 And in what country was your
mother born? Q7 And in what year did you FIRST come to the UK to live or to work?
Base: All respondents (1124) – Length of time in UK % of those not born in UK (866)

having been resident in the UK for more than 30
years.
The age and gender profile of the various ethnic
groups that make up British Muslims i.e. Pakistanis,
Bangladeshis, etc. was broadly similar.
There was, predictably, some variation in what
generation of immigrant the various ethnic groups
represented and hence the amount of time they had
spent in the UK and this is shown in Table 6.
While the majority of those in the Pakistani and
Bangladeshi ethnic groups were first-generation
immigrants (63% and 68% respectively), a sizeable
proportion of each of these groups were more
established, second-generation incomers (33% and
26% respectively).
10
In contrast, among all of the other ethnic groups
(except the diverse ‘Other Muslim’ grouping) the vast
majority – around nine out of ten or more – were first-
generation arrivals in the UK.
This difference between the more established
Pakistani and Bangladeshi residents and the other
ethnic groups was predictably reflected in how long
the various groups had lived in the UK. A substantial
proportion of the Pakistanis and Bangladeshis
interviewed had lived in the UK for more than 20
years, whereas very few of the Iraqi, Somali/Other
East African, North African or Turkish/Kurdish groups
had done so. However, despite the majority being
first-generation immigrants to the UK, they were
not necessarily recent arrivals. While a substantial
proportion of each of these ethnic groups had lived
in the UK for five years or less, the majority had been
here for six to 20 years.
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Table 7: Other Muslims – country of birth

%
UK 49
India 20
Afghanistan 6
Yemen 5
Sudan 3
Iran 2
Kuwait 1
Lebanon 1
Somewhere else 11
Source: Q6 In what country were you born?
Base: All Other Muslims (144)

Other Muslims – country of birth
Those in the ‘Other Muslim’ group (i.e. they did not
belong to any of the specific ethnic groups shown in
Table 6) were asked in what country they had been
born and this is shown in Table 7.
Almost half of this group (49%) had been born in the
UK, but the largest single group to be born outside
this country (a fifth/20%) came from India.
Languages spoken
All respondents were asked, via a prompted list, which
languages they regularly spoke at home and which
they considered to be their main language. Figure 2
shows the response to these questions.
those living in the North East (89%) and East Midlands
(82%).
Urdu was the second most commonly spoken
language, used regularly by just over a third of
respondents (36%), followed by Punjabi (23%). Bengali
and Arabic were each spoken regularly by around one
in seven British Muslims (14% and 13% respectively)
and all other languages were used regularly by less
than one in ten respondents (Gujarati – 8%; Hindi –
5%).
For 15 per cent of respondents Urdu was their main
language, followed by ten per cent whose main
language was Punjabi or Bengali. Fewer than one in
ten used any other language as their main one.

Not surprisingly, English was the language spoken Table 9 examines the languages spoken by each
regularly at home by the largest single group (72%). ethnic group.
However, only approaching half of this group
(equating to two-fifths of those interviewed – 38%)
considered English their main language. Just over one
in ten (12%) spoke only English and the majority (60%)
were multilingual.

Looking at those who regularly spoke English, doing

so was more common among younger respondents
(16–34 – 83%); those who were educated to GCSE
level or above (81%); second-generation immigrants/
those born in the UK and those who had lived here for
more than 30 years (88% and 81% respectively) and 11
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure 2: Languages regularly spoken/main language

12% speak English only %
60% multilingual
72
English
English Regularly Spoken 72 per cent Main Language 3838per cent Higher: 16-34 (83%), educated (81%), 2nd
generation (88%), lived here more than 30 years (81%), NE (89%), E-mids (82%)
36
Urdu UrduRegularly Spoken 36 per cent Main Language 15 per cent
15 Higher:
Punjabi Regularly Spoken 23 per cent Main Language 10 per cent 16-34 (83%), educated (81%),
Bengali Regularly Spoken 14 per cent 23Main Language 10 per cent 2nd generation (88%),
Punjabi lived here more than 30 years (81%),
Arabic Regularly Spoken 13 per cent Main Language 8 per cent NE (89%), E-mids (82%)
10
Gujarati Regularly Spoken 8 per cent Main Language 5 per cent
Hindi Regularly Spoken 5 per14cent Main Language 1 per cent
Bengali
10

13
Arabic 12% speak English only
8 60% multilingual Regularly Spoken

8 Main Language
Gujarati
5

5
Hindi
1

Note: Only shown >5%

Source: Q8 Which of the following languages do you regularly speak at home?
Q9 Which do you consider is your main language?
Base: All respondents (1124)

Table 8: English regularly spoken/main language

Somali/
Other North Turkish/ Other
% Total Pakistani Bangladeshi Iraqi
East African Kurdish Muslim
African
Base (1124) (306) (124) (133) (175) (145) (126) (144)
English regularly
72 75 64 75 68 73 59 76
spoken
English main
39 41 35 20 19 22 28 46
language

Note: Only shown >5%

Source: Q8 Which of the following languages do you regularly speak at home?
Base: All respondents (1124)

12
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

There was relatively little variation by ethnic group
in the number regularly speaking English. In most
ethnic groups between two-thirds and three-quarters
of respondents did so (for example, Pakistanis – 75%;
Bangladeshis – 64%). Fewer survey participants of
Turkish/Kurdish ethnic origin (59%) did so compared
to the other groups.
The ethnic groups differed rather more in terms of use
of English as their main language. Fewer Iraqis (20%);
Somalis/Other East Africans (19%); North Africans
(22%) and Turkish/Kurdish respondents (28%) used
English as their main language compared to Pakistanis
(41%) or Bangladeshis (35%). Clearly, to some extent
this relates to how long the various groups have lived
in the UK and what generation of immigrant they are.
Table 9 shows in detail the languages regularly
spoken at home by the various ethnic groups.
The majority of Pakistanis regularly spoke Urdu (69%)
or Punjabi (47%).
Most Bangladeshis interviewed regularly spoke
Bengali (83%), with a minority using Sylheti (10%);
Hindi (7%); Farsi or Urdu (each 5%).
The Iraqi respondents mainly spoke Arabic regularly
(82%), though a substantial minority spoke Kurdish
(25%). Arabic was also the language used regularly
by the majority of North African respondents (76%).
Around one in ten of this ethnic group regularly spoke
Somali (10%) or French (12%).

Use of English as their main language was highest Among the Somali/Other East African group, Somali
among the ‘Other Muslim’ group (46%). dominated (81%), though a substantial group

Table 9: Languages regularly spoken at home by ethnic group

Somali/
Other North Turkish/ Other
% Total Pakistani Bangladeshi Iraqi
East African Kurdish Muslim
African
Base (1124) (306) (124) (133) (175) (145) (126) (144)
English 72 75 64 75 68 73 59 76
Urdu 35 69 5 2 2 2 - 19
Punjabi 22 47 - 1 2 - - 9
Bengali 14 - 83 2 - 1 - -
Arabic 13 4 - 82 24 76 7 16
Gujarati 8 1 - - 2 - - 28
Hindi 5 2 7 - 1 1 - 11
Pushto 4 5 - 2 - - - 6
Turkish 3 - - 1 - - 72 -
Somali 3 - - - 81 10 - -
Kurdish 2 - - 25 - 3 16 -
Farsi 2 1 5 3 1 1 2 4
Sylheti 2 - 10 - - - - -
French 1 1 - 1 2 12 1 2
Swahili - - - - 12 1 - -
Note: Only shown >5%
Source: Q8 Which of the following languages do you regularly speak at home?
Base: All respondents (1124)
13
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

regularly spoke Arabic (24%) and more than one in
ten (12%) spoke Swahili.
Regular use of Turkish (72%) was far more prevalent
among the Turkish/Kurdish group than Kurdish (16%).
Clearly, in all of these ethnic groups, and particularly
among Pakistanis, more than one language was
spoken regularly by some individuals.
Languages consume media in
Again using a prompted list, respondents were asked
in which languages they watched TV, listened to the
radio, or read newspapers, magazines or websites.
In broad terms and unsurprisingly, this reflected the
languages British Muslims regularly spoke at home.
However, somewhat more of them consumed some
form of media in English than spoke it regularly at
home, no doubt due to its sheer prevalence. More
than four out of five British Muslims watched/listened
(86%) or read (81%) some form of media in English,
compared to 72 per cent who spoke it regularly.
Consumption of TV and radio in English was higher
among males (89%); those aged 16–34 (90%); those
who were educated to GCSE or above (94%) and
second-generation immigrants/those who had
lived here for more than 30 years (95% and 91%
respectively).

Figure 3 illustrates the languages used.

Figure 3: Languages used for media consumption

Languages regularly %
spoken at home
English Watch TV/Listen to radio 86 per cent Read newspapers/magazines/websites 81 per cent 86 Higher:
72% English
Males (89%), 16-34s (90%), Educated (94%), 2nd Gen (95%), lived here more than 30 years (91%) 81
Urdu Watch TV/Listen to radio 35 per cent Read newspapers/magazines/websites 24 per cent
Hindi Watch TV/Listen to radio 18 per cent Read35newspapers/magazines/websites 8 per cent
35% Urdu
Arabic Watch TV/Listen to radio 13 per cent Higher:
Read newspapers/magazines/websites 8 per cent
24 Males (89%),
Punjabi Watch TV/Listen to radio 12 per cent Read newspapers/magazines/websites
16-34s (90%), 6 per cent
Bengali Watch TV/Listen to radio 9 per cent Read newspapers/magazines/websites
Educated (94%), 6 per cent
18 2nd Gen (95%),
5% Hindi lived here more than 30 years (91%)
Languages regularly spoken at home
8
English 72 per cent
Urdu 35 per cent 13
13%
Hindi 5 per cent Arabic
8
Arabic 13 per cent Watch TV/Listen to radio
Punjabi 22 per cent Read newspapers/
12
Bengali 1422%
per centPunjabi magazines/websites
6

9
14% Bengali
6

Note: Only shown >5%

Source: Q10 Which of the following languages do you watch TV or listen to the radio in and which do you read
newspapers, magazines or websites in?
Base: All respondents (1124)
14
 March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Table 10: Languages used for watching TV/listening to radio

Somali/
Other North Turkish/ Other
% Total Pakistani Bangladeshi Iraqi
East African Kurdish Muslim
African
Base (1124) (306) (124) (133) (175) (145) (126) (144)
English 86 88 83 80 87 84 63 88
Urdu 34 65 9 2 2 2 1 19
Hindi 19 18 25 3 2 1 - 25
Arabic 13 4 2 81 33 65 7 18
Punjabi 12 22 - 1 - - - 8
Bengali 9 - 55 1 - 1 - -
Turkish 2 - - - - - 59 -
Kurdish - - - 6 - - 8 -
Sylheti 2 - 14 - - - -
Farsi 2 1 5 5 1 - - 2
Pushto 2 1 - 1 - - - 5
Gujarati 2 1 - - - - - 5
Somali 1 - - 1 39 2 - -
French 1 1 - - - 6 - 2
Higher than ‘regularly speak language’ Lower than ‘regularly speak language’

Note: Only shown >5%

Source: Q10 Which of the following languages do you watch TV or listen to the radio in?
Base: All respondents (1124)

The second most common language to consume
media in was Urdu, with just over a third watching
TV or listening to the radio in Urdu (35%), though
fewer consumed any written media in this language
(24%). The watching/listening figure is in line with the
proportion regularly using Urdu at home (35%).
Like English, Hindi was also stronger in media terms
compared to being spoken regularly at home. Only
five per cent of British Muslims spoke Hindi regularly
at home, but 18 per cent watched TV or listened to
the radio in this language and eight per cent read
some form of media in it.
Relatively few British Muslims consumed any media in
Arabic or Bengali.
This is likely to reflect the availability of media in the
various languages.
Table 10 examines the languages in which each ethnic
group watched TV or listened to the radio.
Clearly, in general terms, the languages in which each
ethnic group consumed TV or radio reflected the
languages they spoke regularly at home. There were,
however, some exceptions to this.

Punjabi, conversely, featured less in media terms
compared to its use at home. Just over a fifth of British
Muslims (22%) regularly spoke this language, but only
12 per cent watched or listened to anything in it and
only six per cent read anything in it.
Pakistanis and Bangladeshis were more likely to
consume broadcast media in Hindi than they were to
speak it regularly, with English media also featuring
more strongly than the English language among
Bangladeshis. 15
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Table 11: Languages used for reading print media and websites
Somali/
Other North Turkish/ Other
% Total Pakistani Bangladeshi Iraqi
East African Kurdish Muslim
African
Base (1124) (306) (124) (133) (175) (145) (126) (144)
English 80 78 80 80 85 78 62 87
Urdu 24 47 5 1 1 - - 12
Arabic 8 2 1 65 15 38 3 11
Hindi 8 7 13 1 - 1 - 10
Bengali 6 - 37 1 - 1 - -
Punjabi 6 12 - 1 - - - 2
Turkish 2 - - 1 - - 54 -
Farsi 2 1 5 4 1 - - 1
Somali 1 - - - 22 1 - -

Consume print/web media less than TV/radio in that language

Note: Only shown >5%

Source: Q10 Which of the following languages do you read newspapers, magazines or websites in?
Base: All respondents (1124)

Among Somalis, broadcast media in Arabic figured
more strongly than the use of the language itself. The
reverse was true of Somali, no doubt reflecting media
availability.
Table 11 examines their consumption of print media
and websites by language and ethnic group. In broad
terms, this reflected the languages spoken regularly
at home.
Religious and cultural behaviour
All respondents were shown five sets of statements
reflecting various religious and cultural practices
and the frequency with which they adopted these
practices. They were asked which of each set of
statements best reflected their own behaviour or
views on religion.
For example, one set of statements concerned
attending mosque or church, with the response
options being ‘I go to the mosque/church more than
once a week’, ‘I go to the mosque/church only on
16 Fridays’ and ‘I go to the mosque/church once a month
or less’.
On this basis respondents were classified as more or
less observant and the degree of observance for each
statement is summarised in Figure 4.
Those interviewed generally did observe many of
the religious behaviours. Relatively few – just seven
per cent of those interviewed – were in the most
observant category for all five of them. However,
almost two-fifths (38%) were in the most observant
category for at least four out of five of the behaviours
and two-thirds (65%) placed themselves in the most
observant category for at least three out of five
behaviours.
The area of greatest observance related to halal food,
where no fewer than four out of five (80%) of the
British Muslims interviewed claimed they only ever
ate halal food. A further one in ten (11%) said they
mainly ate halal food but also ate some other foods.
Just five per cent said they ate equal amounts of halal
and other foods.
A similar pattern was evident relating to observance
of fasting during Ramadan or Lent. Three-quarters of
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Figure 4: Religious/cultural behaviour

%
MOST OBSERVANT
7% most observant on all 5 behaviours
Halal 11 4 of 5 behaviours
5 at least
food 4 on 80 Only ever eat
38% most observant Halal food
65% most observant on at least 3 of 5 behaviours

5 eat 9Halal food) Observe all

HalalRamadan/Lent
food (Only ever 11 DK 4 percent 75 1 5 percent 2 11 percent 3 80 percent
Ramadan/Lent fasts
Ramadan/Lent (Observe all Ramadan/Lent fasts) DK 5 percent 1 9 percent 2 11 percent 3 75
percent
3 everyday)
16 Pray at home
Praying
Praying (Pray at home DK 21
3 percent 1 16 percent60 2 21 percent 3 60 percent
every day
Mosque/Church (Go to mosque/church more than a week) DK 11 percent 1 31 percent 2 23 percent
3 35 percent Go to mosque/
Mosque/Church 11 31 23 35
Traditional clothes (Always wear traditional clothes) DK 1 percent 1 14 percent church
2 56 more than3 29
percent
a week
percent
100 per cent = MOST OBSERVANT
Traditional clothes 1 14 56 29 Always wear
traditional clothes

DK 1 2 3

7% most observant on all 5 behaviours

38% most observant on at least 4 of 5 behaviours
65% most observant on at least 3 of 5 behaviours

Source: Q62 I am now going to show you 5 sets of statements. For each, please tell me which best reflects your own
behaviour or views on religion
Base: All respondents (1124)

Looking at adoption of traditional clothes, three

those interviewed (75%) claimed they observed all the
out of ten (29%) said they always wore this type of
fasts during this period and a further one in ten (11%)
clothing. However, the majority (56%) did so only
claimed they observed most of them. Just under one
sometimes and a further 14 per cent never did.
in ten (9%) only observed a few of the fasts.

Looking at the subgroups, those who spoke only

There was somewhat lower general observance
English and/or were not interested in their religion/
relating to prayer. Nevertheless, three out of five
culture were less likely to be in the most observant
(60%) claimed they prayed at home every day, though
category for all five behaviours. Females, those aged
one-fifth (21%) stated they only prayed at home about
over 35 and first-generation immigrants were more
once a week and a further 16 per cent admitted they
likely to pray every day; males and those aged over 45
hardly ever did so.
were more likely to attend mosque/church more than
once a week; females and those aged 45+ were more
Observance in terms of attendance at mosque or
likely always to wear traditional clothes.
church was lower still, with only just over a third (35%)
claiming to do so more than once a week and only
Figure 5 summarises the key differences in level of
a quarter (23%) stating they attended on Fridays. As
observance by ethnic group.
many as a third (31%) said they attended only once a
month or less. 17
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure 5: Differences in level of observance by ethnic group

Religious/cultural behaviour

Bangladeshis Iraqis
Pakistanis
Higher on: Mainly Higher on: Go
Higher on: Only
eat halal food (19%), to the Mosque/
ever eat halal
Sometimes wear church only on
food (89%)
traditional clothes (62%) Fridays (34%)

Somali/Other Turkish/Kurdish Other Muslims

North Africans
East Africans Higher on: The least Higher on:
Higher on: Never
Higher on: Go to the observant measure Sometimes
wear traditional
Mosque/church > on all religious wear traditional
clothes (30%)
once a week (47%) behaviours clothes (61%)

Source: Q62 I am now going to show you 5 sets of statements. For each, please tell me which best reflects your own
behaviour or views on religion
Base: All respondents (1124)

Pakistanis and Bangladeshis were more likely to be
more observant in terms of eating halal food, with 89
per cent of the former group claiming they only ever
ate halal food and 19 per cent of the latter stating they
mainly did so. Bangladeshis were also more likely to
sometimes wear traditional clothes (62%), as were
those in the Other Muslim grouping (61%). North
Africans, however, were more likely never to wear
traditional clothes (30%).
Those of Turkish/Kurdish ethnic origin were least likely
to observe all of the religious behaviours e.g. 21 per
cent of this group ate equal amounts of halal and
other food; 35 per cent of them only observed a few of
the Ramadan/Lent fasts and 54 per cent of them never
wore traditional clothes.

Somalis/Other East Africans were more likely to go

to the mosque/church more than once a week (47%).
Iraqis were more likely to go to the mosque/church
only on Fridays (34%).

18
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

4. General concerns

All respondents were asked, using a prompted list, security (11%), traffic congestion (10%) and standards
which of a number of issues they felt were the major in education (10%). All other issues were mentioned
concerns facing them today. Figure 6 summarises by fewer than one in ten of those interviewed.
their concerns.
Examining the subgroups (other than ethnic origin,
The issue mentioned by the highest proportion
which is discussed below), no consistent pattern
of British Muslims was crime levels and anti-social
emerged of any particular subgroup being more or
behaviour, which was selected by almost a third of
less concerned.
those interviewed (31%). Second in their hierarchy
came drugs, mentioned by a quarter (26%). A fifth
Figure 7 sets the responses of British Muslims in
(20% in each case) mentioned each of house prices
context against the views of the general population
and terrorism.
(ascertained via an omnibus survey of 2,150 adults
conducted in March 2008).
Discrimination and employment were each
mentioned by just over one in ten of the British
Muslims interviewed (13%). Slightly fewer/around one
in ten selected each of feeling safe in the UK/national

Figure 6: Respondents’ major concerns

% %
Crime levels\antisocial behaviour 31 per cent
Drugs 26 per Crime
centlevels\ 31 Household finances 9
House prices 20
anti-social per cent
behaviour
Terrorism 20 per cent
Discrimination 13 Drugs
per cent 26 Immigration 8
Employment 13 per cent
Feeling safe in the UK\national security 11 per cent Provision of health
House prices
Traffic congestion 10 per cent 20 7
Standards in education 10 per cent services\NHS
The economy 9Terrorism
per cent 20 International issues 7
Healthy eating 9 per cent
Household finances 9 per cent
Immigration 8 per cent
Discrimination 13 Local community issues 7
Provision of health services\NHS 7 per cent
International issues 7 per cent Pollution\environmental issues
Local community issues 7 per cent 13
Employment 6
Pollution\environmental issues (including global warming) (including
6 per centglobal warming)
Pensions
Feeling2safe
perincent
the UK\
Animal welfare 1 per cent 11 Pensions 2
Other 0 national
per centsecurity
DK 2 per centcongestion
Traffic 10 Animal welfare 1
None 11 per cent
Standards in education 10 Other

The economy 9 DK 2

Healthy eating 9 None 11

Source: Q13 Looking at the screen which of the following are the major concerns facing you today?
Base: All respondents (1124)
19
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure 7: British Muslims’ major concerns compared to those of the general

population
% %
Crime levels\antisocial behaviour All respondents 31 per cent General Population 35 per cent
Crime levels\
Drugs All respondents 26 per cent General Population 25 per cent 31 9
Household finances 14
anti-social
House prices Allbehaviour
respondents 20 per cent Significant at 95 per cent. General35
Population 17 per cent
Terrorism All respondents 26 8
Drugs 20 per cent General Population2518 per cent Immigration 20
Discrimination All respondents 13 per cent Significant at 95 per cent. General Population 5 per cent
Employment All respondents 20
13 per cent General Population 13 per cent Provision of health 7
House prices 17
Feeling safe in the UK\national security All respondents 11 per cent General Population services\NHS
9 per cent
18
20 7
Traffic congestion All respondents 10 per cent General Population 13 per cent
Terrorism International issues
18 4
Standards in education All respondents 10 per cent General Population 14 per cent
13 7
The economy Discrimination
All respondents 9 per 5
cent General Population 16 per cent Local community issues 7
Healthy eating All respondents 9 per cent General Population 10 per cent
13 Pollution\environmental 6
Employment
Household finances All respondents 9 per cent General Population 14 per cent
13 issues (including global warming) 13
Immigration All respondents 8 per cent General Population 20 per cent
Feeling safe in the UK\ 11 2
Provisionnational
of health services\NHS All respondents
security 9 7 per cent General Population 18 perPensions
cent 14
International issues All respondents 7 per cent General Population 4 per cent
10 1
Traffic congestion
Local community issues All respondents 7 13 per cent General Population 7 per cent Animal welfare 6
Pollution\environment al issues (including 10
global warming) All respondents 6 per cent General Population 13 per cent
Standards
Pensions All in education2 per cent General14Population 14 per cent
respondents Other 1
Animal welfare All respondents 1 per cent 9
General Population 6 per cent 2
The economy
Other All respondents 0 per cent General Population
16 1 per cent DK
1
DK All respondents 2 per cent General9Population 1 per cent 11
Healthy eating
None All respondents 11 per cent General
10 Population 4 per cent
None 4

All respondents General Population

= Significant at 95%
Source: Q13 Looking at the screen which of the following are the major concerns facing you today?
Base: All respondents (1124)/All adults via Omnibus (2150)

As for British Muslims, crime and drugs were the main NHS as a concern (compared to 18% of the general
concerns facing the general population. population).

British Muslims were more concerned than the
general population about relatively few issues –
only discrimination (selected by 13% of this group
compared to only 5% of the general population) and
to a lesser extent, house prices (mentioned by 20% of
British Muslims and 17% of the population as a whole).
There were far more issues where British Muslims
expressed lower levels of concern compared to the
general population and for some of these issues,
the gap between the views of the two groups was
greater. Only eight per cent of British Muslims were
concerned about immigration, compared to 20 per
cent of the general population; hardly any British
Muslims mentioned pensions (2%, versus 14% of
the population as a whole) and only seven per cent
20 mentioned the provision of health services/the
Other concerns that were mentioned by fewer
British Muslims compared to the general population
were the economy; pollution/environmental issues;
household finances; crime and anti-social behaviour;
educational standards; and traffic congestion.
Looking specifically at the issues of terrorism and
national security, these were mentioned as concerns
by very similar numbers of British Muslims compared
to the general population. Slightly more British
Muslims mentioned each one, but the difference
between the two samples was not significant in either
case.
Figure 8 summarises the differences in concerns that
emerged by ethnic group.
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Figure 8: Major concerns by ethnic group

Bangladeshis Iraqis
Pakistanis
Higher on: Higher on:
Higher on:
Standards in education Immigration
Drugs (36%)
(16%) (20%)

Somali/Other East
Africans
North Africans Turkish/Kurdish Other Muslims
Lower on:
Little difference Lower on: Little difference
Crime levels (17%)
versus total Discrimination (4%) versus total
House prices (4%)
Traffic congestion (5%)

Source: Q13 Looking at the screen which of the following are the major concerns facing you today?
Base: All respondents (1124)/All adults via Omnibus (2150)

In fact, there was relatively little significant variation
by ethnicity and no pattern of particular ethnic groups
sharing areas of concern or being generally more or
less concerned about these issues.
Compared to other ethnic groups, Pakistanis were
more likely to express a concern about drugs (36%)
and more Bangladeshis were concerned about
standards in education (16%).
Looking at those groups who expressed less concern
about some issues, Somalis/Other East Africans were
less likely to mention crime levels (17%); house prices
(4%) and traffic congestion (5%). Those of Turkish/
Kurdish ethnic origin were less likely to have a concern
about discrimination (4%). The views of North Africans
and the Other Muslim grouping were broadly in line
with that of British Muslims as a whole.

Iraqis were more likely than other groups to mention

concern over immigration (20%).

21
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report June 2008

5. General interests

Early on in the interview respondents were asked
which of a number of topics they were interested in
(using a prompted list). Later on, they were then asked
to state their level of interest in a number of key topics
using a four-point scale.
General Interests
Figure 9 shows the responses to the early question
about respondents’ general interests, where a list of
possible topics was shown and they selected those
they were interested in.
The issue selected most frequently by British
Muslims as of interest was their religion and culture,
mentioned by 58 per cent. This was particularly the
case for those aged 35 to 54 (66%). However, far fewer
of those who spoke only English expressed an interest
in this topic (33%).
World news and current affairs – and also sport – were
next, each mentioned by two-fifths of this group
(39% in each case). Just slightly fewer mentioned
each of music (36%) and entertainment (35%). Some
predictable subgroup differences emerged, with
far more males interested in sport (61%) and the
youngest age group particularly mentioning music
(16–24 – 58%).

Figure 9: Respondents’ general interests

Your religion and culture 58 per cent Higher: 35-54s

%
(66%) Lower: Speak EnglishHigher:
only (33%)
35-54s (66%)
World News/Current affairs 39 per cent Higher: 35-54s (48%), Degree+ Lower: Speak English only (33%)
Your39religion
Sport per cent Higher: Males (61%), GCSE+ Degree- (52%) Lower: Females
and culture 58 (15%) Over 55s, (19%)
Music 36 per cent Higher: 16-24s (58%), Not interested in religion & culture (61%)Higher:
Lower:35-54s
Over (48%),
45s (17%)
Degree+
Entertainment
World News/ 35 per cent Higher: Females (39%), 16-24s (52%), Educated (41%), 2nd Gen (46%) Lower: Over 45s
39
Current
(15%), affairs
non-educated (24%) Higher: Males (61%), GCSE+ Degree- (52%)
Lower:
British News/Current affairs 30 per cent Higher: Males (35%), 45-54s (43%), Females
degree+ (15%)English
(41%), Over 55s, (19%)
+ Other
39
languageSport
(36%)
Higher: 16-24s (58%), Not interested
Lifestyle (e.g. parenting) 20 per cent Higher: Females (25%), 25-34s (31%), Lower:
in religion Non-educated
& culture (61%) (10%)
Music issues 15 per cent Higher: Degree+ 36
Environmental (25%) Lower: 16-24sLower:
(6%)Over 45s (17%)
None of these 3 per cent
35 Higher: Females (39%), 16-24s (52%),
Entertainment
Educated (41%), 2nd Gen (46%)
Lower: Over 45s (15%), non-educated (24%)
British News/ 30
Current affairs
Higher: Males (35%), 45-54s (43%), degree+
Lifestyle (41%), English + Other language (36%)
20
(e.g. parenting)

Environmental Higher: Females (25%), 25-34s (31%)

15
issues Lower: Non-educated (10%)

None of these 3
Higher: Degree+ (25%)
Lower: 16-24s (6%)

Source: Q14 Now we would like to know about some of your general interests. Which of the following topics are you
interested in?
22
22 Base: All respondents (1124)
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Somewhat fewer British Muslims were interested in
British news compared to world news – only 30 per
cent mentioned domestic current affairs, compared
to 39 per cent who had selected world news as of
interest.
Other topics were of interest to rather fewer British
Muslims. One in five (20%) mentioned lifestyle
issues such as parenting and only 15 per cent chose
environmental issues.
Examining the responses of the various ethnic groups,
those of Turkish/Kurdish origin were less likely than
most other groups to express an interest in their
religion and culture (40%) but the group most likely to
be interested in music (46%).
Those in the Other Muslim grouping were more
interested than almost every other group in world
news (49%) and also more interested than most in
entertainment (41%).
Environmental issues were of more interest to North
Africans (20%) and those in the Other Muslim group
(23%) compared to Pakistanis, Iraqis and Turkish/
Kurdish respondents.
Interest in key types of information
A four-point scale was used to assess respondents’
interest in the topics of religion and culture; domestic
news; world news and entertainment. Figure 10
summarises the responses to this measure.

Figure 10: Interest in key types of information

Your religion and culture
Your Mean 3.5 Very interested (4) 55
religion per cent Fairly interested (3) 37 per cent
Not very interested (2) 7 per all interested (1)International
cent Not atDomestic 1 per cent DK 1Entertainment
per cent
Higher among: Females (94%) 2nd Gen (96%)
and culture newsLower among: Spk English only (80%), Not interested in news
news
(81%)
Domestic news Mean 3.1 Very interested (4) 27 per cent Fairly interested (3) 55 per cent
Not very interested (2) 13 per cent Not at all interested (1) 3 per cent DK 1 per cent Very
Higher among: 25-44s (87%) Degree + (89%) Interested in int-news (91%) Lower among: Non-educated (78%)
interested (4)
International news Mean 3.1 Very interested (4) 35 percent Fairly interested28 (3) 47 per cent
Not very interested (2) 13 per cent Not at all27interested (1) 5 per
35 cent DK 1 per cent
Higher among: Males (86%), Degree + (90%) Lower among: Speak English only (61%) Fairly
Entertainment Mean 3.0 Very interested (4) 28 per cent Fairly interested (3) 48 per cent
Not very interested (2) 15 per
55 cent Not at all interested (1) 8 per cent DK 1 per cent interested (3)
Higher among: 16-34s (85%), GCSE+ Degree- (86%) , 2nd Gen (82%), Interested in news (81%) Lower among:
Over 45s (53%), Non Educated (70%)
82% 82% 76% Not very
92%
% interested (2)

55 48
47 Not at all
interested (1)

37
DK
15
13 13
7 5 8
3
Mean 3.5 3.1 3.1 3.0
Higher among: Higher among: Higher among: Higher among:
Females (94%) 25-44s (87%) Males (86%), 16-34s (85%),
2nd Gen (96%) Degree + (89%) Degree + (90%) GCSE+ Degree-
Lower among: Interested in Lower among: (86%) , 2nd Gen
Interested Spk English only int-news (91%) Speak English (82%), Interested
(Very interested/ (80%), Not Lower among: only (61%) in news (81%)
fairly interested) interested in Non-educated Lower among:
news (81%) (78%) Over 45s (53%),
Non-educated (70%)

Source: Q57 How interested if at all would you say you are in each of these different areas?
Base: All respondents (1124)
23
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010
Claimed interest in all four topics was high, but the
highest level of interest was in religion and culture,
with more than nine out of ten (92%) British Muslims
interested in this topic and over half (55%) ‘very
interested’ in it. This is in contrast to all of the other
topics, where only between a quarter and a third
claimed to be very interested.
Around four out of five were interested in each of
domestic and international news (82% in each case),
although somewhat more were ‘very interested’ in
world news (35%) compared to domestic issues (27%).
Slightly fewer – but still three-quarters of the sample –
(76%) were interested in entertainment.
24
Looking at the key subgroups, those with a higher
level of education, for example a degree, were
more likely to be interested in both domestic and
world news (89% and 90% respectively) – though
entertainment was also of interest to this group (86%).
Across the age groups, entertainment was of interest
to younger respondents (16–34 – 85%) and domestic
news to those aged 25–44 (87%).
Examining the ethnic groups, all other ethnic groups
were more likely to be interested in their religion and
culture compared to the Turkish/Kurdish group and
most were more interested in this topic compared to
the Iraqis.
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report
6. General media consumption
Respondents were asked a series of questions relating
to their media consumption.
Media reach summary
Figure 11 gives an overview of media reach among
British Muslims. The subsequent sections of this
report then examine usage of each medium in greater
detail.
As would be expected, almost all British Muslims
(93%) watched some form of TV. Just under half (46%)
listened to the radio.
Looking at written media, two-thirds (67%) read any
newspapers nowadays, with considerably fewer (27%)
reading magazines.
Just over half of those interviewed (55%) accessed
the Internet at least monthly, with just under half of
this group (48%) visiting any of a prompted list of
types of websites (e.g. auction, business, news, sports,
women’s interests, etc.).
Figure 11: Overview of media reach among British Muslims
93% watch any TV channels
at all nowadays
67% read any newspapers
at all nowadays
27% read any magazines at
all nowadays
Source: Q25/Q28/Q30/Q32/Q15/Q17
Base: All respondents (1124)
Types of television received
Figure 12 shows which types of television were
received by the household.
Just over four out of five households/respondents
received any form of multi-channel TV (83%), with
Sky satellite TV the most common type, received by
just over half (53%). Multi-channel TV was therefore
slightly over-represented among British Muslims
compared to the general population, 76 per cent of
whom access it (NRS, January to December 2007).
Thus, 17 per cent of British Muslims received only the
five main channels – broadly in line with the general
population (19% – BARB data).
Three-quarters (74%) received any satellite or cable
service.
Aside from Sky satellite TV, there was a fairly even
spread across the sample of receiving other types of
television. Some 14 per cent had Freeview; 13 per cent
received some other form of satellite TV and 12 per
46% listen to any radio
stations at all nowadays
55% access the internet at
least monthly
48% visit any of the types
of websites covered
25
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure 12: Types of television received

Satellite TV (Sky) 53 per cent
The five main channels ONLY (BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, C4, FIVE) 17 % per cent General population (ref: BARB) = 19 per
cent
Freeview (through a set-top box or digital television set) 14 per cent
Satellite TV (Other)
Satellite TV13(Sky)
per cent 53
Cable TV (through Virgin Media) 12 per cent
PC or laptop - via the Internet 4 per cent
The five main channels ONLY
Net: Any(BBC1,
multi-channel 83
BBC2, ITV1,74C4,per cent General population
FIVE) (NRS
17 General Jan-Dec =07)
population* 19%= 76 per cent
Net: Any satellite/cable per cent
Freeview (through a set-top
box or digital television set) 14

Satellite TV (Other) 13

Cable TV (through Virgin Media) 12

PC or laptop - via the Internet 4

General
Net: Any multi-channel 83 population**
= 76%

Net: Any satellite/cable 74

* BARB, **NRS Jan-Dec 07

Source: Q20 Which of these types of television does your household receive at the moment?
Base: All respondents (1124)

cent received cable TV (via Virgin Media). Only around
one in 20 (4%) watched TV via the Internet.
There was some significant variation by ethnic group,
with Pakistanis and Bangladeshis more likely to
receive Sky (64% and 71% respectively). Those in the
Turkish/Kurdish (45%), North African (33%) and Iraqi
(30%) groups were more likely to have other types
of satellite TV. North Africans and those in the Other
Muslim grouping were more likely to use Freeview
(21% and 20% respectively).
Types of TV programmes usually
watched
Respondents were asked which types of TV
programmes they usually watched, using a prompt
list. Figure 13 shows all types mentioned by five per
cent or more of the sample.
Three out of ten (29%) watched programmes on
religion. A similar proportion watched soaps (27%);
programmes about music (26%), or documentaries
(25%). A smaller proportion usually watched drama
series or serials (18%) or comedies (17%), followed by
current affairs (13%), children’s programmes (13%),
wildlife programmes (12%) or history (12%). All other
programme types were mentioned by fewer than one
in ten of those interviewed.
Looking at the main themes across the demographic
subgroups (see Figure 14), films, music and
comedies were more likely to be watched by
younger respondents and those very interested in
entertainment. Religious programmes were more
likely to be watched by those aged 45 to 54 (41%) and
those who were very interested in their religion and
culture (39%).

26 Films were most popular, watched by half of those

interviewed (50%), followed by news and weather
(38%) and sport/football (also 38%).
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Figure 13: TV programmes usually watched by five per cent of more of sample
Any 93 per cent % %
Films 50 per cent
News\weather 38 per cent
Any 93 Children's 13
Sport: Football 36 per cent
Religious 29 per cent
Drama: Soaps 27 per cent Wildlife 12
Music 26 per cent
Documentaries 25Filmsper cent 50
Drama: Series\Serials 18 per cent History 12
Comedies 17 per cent
Current Affairs 13 per cent
Children’s News\weather
13 per cent 38 Drama: One off
10
Wildlife 12 per cent plays\dramas
History 12Sport:
per cent
Football 36
Drama: One off plays\dramas 10 per cent Reality television 8
Reality television 8 per cent
Science 8 per cent
Religious 29
Sport: Cricket 7 per cent Science 8
Chat shows 7 per cent
Drama: Soaps
Game shows\quizzes 7 per cent 27
Sci-fi\Fantasy 6 per cent Sport: Cricket 7
Talent shows 5 per cent
Music 26
Chat shows 7
Documentaries 25
Game shows\
Drama: Series\ 7
18 quizzes
Serials
Comedies 17 Sci-fi\Fantasy 6

Current Affairs 13 Talent shows 5

Source: Q23 Which of the following types of television programmes do you usually watch?
Base: All respondents (1124)

Figure 14: TV programmes watched by demographic subgroups

Any 93 per cent %
Films 50 per cent Higher: 16-34s (61%), 2nd Gen (60%), English and other language (57%), V interested in
entertainment (68%) Any 93
News\weather 38 per cent Higher: 35-54s (45%), English and other language (46%), V interest in news (53%)
Sport: Football 36 per cent Higher: Males (55%), 35-54s (41%), GCSE+ but Degree- (46%). In UK 6-10 years (48%)
Religious 29 per cent Higher: 45-54s (41%), V interest in Religion/culture (39%)
Drama: Soaps 27 per cent Higher: Females (36%), 16-34sHigher:(33%), GCSE only (37%)
16-34s (61%), 2nd Gen (60%), English and other language (57%),
Music 26 per cent Higher: 16-24s (49%), V interested
Films 50 in entertainment (45%)
Documentaries 25 per cent Higher: NW (38%), Higher than GCSEin(33%),
V interested 2nd Gen
entertainment (68%)(32%)
Drama: Series\Serials 18 per cent Higher: Females (25%)
ComediesNews\weather
17 per cent Higher: 16-24s (25%),
38 GCSE+Higher:
Degree – (45%),
35-54s (29%), V interested
English in News/Entertainment
and other language (46%), V interested in news(24%)
(53%)
Current Affairs 13 per cent Higher: Males (16%), 35-54s (20%), Degree + (23%), V interested in News (21%)
Sport: Football 36 Higher: Males (55%), 35-54s (41%), GCSE+ but Degree- (46%). In UK 6-10 years (48%)

Religious 29 Higher: 45-54s (41%), V interested in Religion/culture (39%)

Drama: Soaps 27 Higher: Females (36%), 16-34s (33%), GCSE only (37%)

Music 26 Higher: 16-24s (49%), V interested in entertainment (45%)

Documentaries 25 Higher: NW (38%), Higher than GCSE (33%), 2nd Gen (32%)

Drama: Series\Serials 18 Higher: Females (25%)

Comedies 17 Higher: 16-24s (25%), GCSE+ Degree – (29%), V interested in news/entertainment (24%)

Current Affairs 13 Higher: Males (16%), 35-54s (20%), Degree + (23%), V interested in news (21%)

Source: Q23 Which of the following types of television programmes do you usually watch?
Base: All respondents (1124)
27
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure 15: TV programmes watched – key differences by ethnic group

Pakistanis Bangladeshis Iraqis

Higher on: Higher on: Higher on:
Drama soaps, Films, Children’s programmes Films, Drama Serials,
Serials, Current Lower on: Current Affairs, History,
affairs News One-off plays

Somali/Other East Turkish/Kurdish

Africans Higher on: Other Muslims
North Africans
Higher on: Films, Music Higher on:
Higher on:
Sports, History Lower on: Wildlife, One-off
History
Lower on: Religion, plays
Drama Documentaries

Figure 16: TV channels watched and frequency

BBC One 54 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ % Frequency = 40-59% %
ITV1 39 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 40-59%
BBC Two 35 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 39% or less Al Jazeera
five (ChannelBBC 5) 29 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ 54
One Frequency = 40-59% English 11
The Islam channel 27 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 40-59%
Channel 4\S4CITV1 27 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 40-59%
39 Frequency
BBC News 24 24 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ = 60% orBangla TV
greater 10
GEO TV 23 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 60% or greater
Sky News BBC Two 22 per cent ‘Watch 35 Daily’ Frequency = 60% or greater 10
PTV Prime
Zee TV 17 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 60% or greater
BBCfive
Three 16 per5)cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 39% or less
ITV2 15(Channel 29
per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 39% or less CNN 9
BBC Four 13 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 39% or less
Sky
TheOne
Islam12channel
per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 40-59%
MTV 11 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ 27 Frequency = 40-59% Prime TV 9
ARY One World 11 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 40-59%
Channel
Al Jazeera 4\S4C 11 per cent 27
English ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 40-59%
Bangla TV 10 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 40-59% Venus TV 8
PTV Prime 10 per
BBC News 24cent ‘Watch24Daily’ Frequency = 40-59%
CNN 9 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 40-59% Aapna Channel 8
Prime TV 9 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 40-59%
Venus TV 8GEO per TV
cent ‘Watch Daily’
23 Frequency = 40-59%
Aapna Channel 8 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ FrequencyAl = Jazeera
40-59%Arabic
Al JazeeraSky Arabic ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 60% or greater 8
8 per cent 22
News‘Watch
Living 5 per cent Daily’ Frequency = 39% or less
Channel S 5 per cent ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 40-59% Living 5
Al Arabiya MBC 5 per cent17
Zee TV ‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 60% or greater
Any (Net) 94 per cent
5 main channels only (Net) 9 per cent Channel S 5
BBC Three
Ethnic minority channels 16
(Net) 59 per cent
None of these 6 per cent Al Arabiya MBC 5
ITV2 15
Any (Net) 94
BBC Four 13
5 main channels 9
Sky One 12 only (Net)
Ethnic minority 59
MTV 11 channels (Net)
ARY One World 11 None of these 6

‘Watch Daily’ Frequency = 60% or greater = 40-59% = 39% or less

Source: Q25 Which of the following TV channels do you watch at all nowadays?
Q26 And how frequently do you normally watch each of these?
28
Base: All respondents (1124) / All who watch each channel
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Figure 15 summarises the key differences by ethnic greatest proportion – 54 per cent did so and between
group, though no real pattern of interest emerged. 40 per cent to 59 per cent of these did so daily.

TV channels watched nowadays Almost three-fifths of respondents (59%) watched

some specialist ethnic minority channel, with the
Using a prompted list of channels, respondents were
Islam Channel most likely to be watched (27%).
asked which TV channels they watched nowadays and
how frequently they normally watched each one.
News channels also received notable levels of
mentions (BBC News 24 – 24%; Sky News – 22%).
Figure 16 summarises this information, using a ‘traffic-
These, together with GEO TV (23%) and Zee TV (17%)
light’ system to denote frequency. Those which were
were most likely to be watched daily.
viewed daily by 60 per cent or more of those watching
that channel are indicated in green; amber shows that
Table 12 examines the profile of those watching the
40 per cent to 59 per cent of viewers watched daily
main TV channels daily.
and red that 39 per cent or less of viewers watched
daily.
A full list of other channels watched is included for
reference in the Appendix.
The main terrestrial channels were generally the most
likely to be watched, with BBC One watched by the

Table 12: Profile of those who watch TV channels daily

BBC The
BBC GEO Sky BBC Channel Channel
% Total ITV 1 News Islam Zee TV
One TV News Two 5 4
24 Channel
(1124) (307) (166) (162) (113) (139) (137) (141) (122) (116) (84)
SEX
Male 52 45 51 67 49 52 42 55 40 40 39
Female 48 56 49 33 51 48 58 45 60 60 61
AGE
16-24 27 30 29 22 25 30 23 26 42 42 25
25-34 24 30 34 26 32 25 21 29 27 26 28
35-44 24 22 19 35 22 25 26 20 15 15 16
45-54 9 9 11 9 11 11 10 15 10 11 12
55+ 15 8 7 8 11 9 20 9 6 7 19
ETHNICITY
Pakistani 43 41 47 45 90 52 60 36 40 36 67
Bangladeshi 17 19 17 14 3 14 14 15 26 30 10
Iraqi 4 3 2 2 - 2 1 3 3 4 -
Somali/Other
3 4 3 3 - 3 3 5 3 3 -
E. African
North African 3 3 2 5 - 3 4 5 3 3 -
Turkish/Kurdish 5 2 3 1 - 3 2 3 3 2 -
Other Muslims 27 29 26 30 7 24 17 33 22 22 22
Source: Q26 And how frequently do you normally watch each of these?
Base: All respondents who watch each channel daily 29
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Viewers of BBC News 24 were more likely to be males, Looking at the ethnic groups, viewers of GEO TV, Sky
while those watching BBC One, Channel 4, Channel 5, News, the Islam Channel and Zee TV were more likely
the Islam Channel or Zee TV daily were more likely to to be Pakistanis. Those watching Channels 4 and 5,
be females. however, were more likely to be of Bangladeshi origin.

Viewers of Channels 4 and 5 tended to be in the Tables 13 and 14 show the TV channels watched by
youngest group (16–24) while those watching BBC the various ethnic groups.
One and ITV 1 were more likely to be 25- to 34-year-
olds. Daily viewers of BBC News 24 were more likely to
be 35- to 44-year-olds while those watching BBC Two
tended to be aged 45–54 years.

Table 13: TV channels watched by ethnic group (1)

Somali/
Other North Turkish/ Other
% Total Pakistani Bangladeshi Iraqi
East African Kurdish Muslim
African
(1124) (306) (124) (133) (175) (145) (126) (144)
BBC One 54 48 61 65 63 53 53 56
ITV1 39 36 38 43 42 22 38 44
BBC Two 35 31 34 36 45 37 38 39
five (Channel 5) 29 26 33 34 30 26 26 31
Channel 4\S4C 27 24 34 36 25 20 19 29
The Islam
27 32 28 19 26 24 9 24
channel
BBC News 24 24 23 21 28 24 33 15 27
GEO TV 22 45 4 3 2 1 * 9
Sky News 22 28 20 14 18 17 15 18
Zee TV 18 25 14 3 5 3 1 16
BBC Three 16 14 15 12 22 21 16 19
ITV2 15 14 14 8 21 11 6 20
E4 13 9 19 13 13 7 5 17
BBC Four 13 12 14 11 18 19 11 13
Sky One 12 12 16 6 12 11 7 11
Note: Only shown >5%
Source: Q25 Which of the following TV channels do you watch at all nowadays?
Base: All respondents (1124)

30
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Table 14: TV channels watched by ethnic group (2)

Somali/
Other North Turkish/ Other
% Total Pakistani Bangladeshi Iraqi
East African Kurdish Muslim
African
(1124) (306) (124) (133) (175) (145) (126) (144)
Al Jazeera English 11 9 4 28 32 29 3 11
ARY One World 11 22 2 3 - 1 - 6
MTV 11 12 12 3 12 7 4 13
PTV Prime 10 22 * 3 - - - 3
Bangla TV 10 - 57 2 * 1 * -
Prime TV 9 18 1 3 3 3 1 5
CNN 9 10 3 11 12 8 13 9
Al Jazeera Arabic 8 2 1 45 29 45 5 9
Aapna Channel 8 16 1 2 * 1 * 4
Venus TV 8 13 4 3 * - - 5
Al Arabiya MBC 5 1 * 33 13 29 3 6
Channel S 5 1 29 1 - 1 2 -
Living 5 5 5 1 6 2 1 7
Note: Only shown >5%
Source: Q25 Which of the following TV channels do you watch at all nowadays?
Base: All respondents (1124)

There was relatively little variation across the ethnic Bangladeshis were more likely to watch Bangla TV
groups in terms of their viewing of the mainstream (57%) and Channel S (29%).
channels of BBC One, ITV 1 and BBC Two. The
Iraqis, those in the Somali/Other East African group
exceptions were that fewer North Africans watched
and North Africans were more likely to watch Al
ITV 1 (22%) and fewer Pakistanis watched BBC Two
Jazeera English and/or Al Jazeera Arabic. Iraqis and
(31%). More of the former group watched BBC News
North Africans also were more likely to watch Al
24 (33%) and far more of the latter (45%) watched GEO
Arabiya MBC.
TV, the Pakistan news channel.

As Table 14 shows, Pakistanis were also more likely

to watch ARY One World (33%) and PTV Prime (22%).

31
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure 17: TV programmes usually watched

Any 69 per cent %
Higher among: 16-34s (77%), GCSE and above but below degree (82%), 2nd Gen (86%), in UK 30+ years (80%),
interested in News (80%)
Lower among: Don’t speak English
Any (47%) 69
Eastenders 33 per cent
Crimewatch 31 per cent
Newsnight 24 per cent
EastEnders 33
Panorama 20 per cent
The Bill 18 per cent Crimewatch 31
Coronation Street 16 per cent Higher among:
Dispatches 13 per cent
Newsnight 24 16-34s (77%), GCSE and above but
Hollyoaks 12 per cent below degree (82%), 2nd Gen (86%),
Tonight with Trevor McDonald
Panorama 11 per cent 20
Question time 11 per cent in UK 30+ years (80%), interested in
Emmerdale 9 per cent
The Bill 18 News (80%)
Casualty 9 per cent Lower among:
Holby City 7 per cent
Have I got newsCoronation
for you 6Street
per cent 16 Don’t speak English (47%)
Mock the Week 4 perDispatches
cent
None of these 31 per cent 13
Hollyoaks 12
Tonight with Trevor McDonald 11
Question time 11
Emmerdale 9
Casualty 9
Holby City 7
Have I got news for you 6
Mock the Week 4
None of these 31

Source: Q24 Which of the following programmes do you usually watch?

Base: All respondents (1124)

EastEnders was the most popular programme/soap

TV programmes usually watched
Respondents were asked which programmes they
usually watched, using a prompt list.
Figure 17 illustrates the findings on this measure.
opera (viewed by 33%) and Crimewatch was viewed
by a similar proportion of respondents (31%). There
were gender differences between these programmes,
with more females watching EastEnders (44%) and
more males watching Crimewatch (36%).

Almost seven out of ten respondents (69%) watched
one or more of these programmes, this being higher
among younger respondents (16–35 – 77%); those
with GCSE and above qualifications but below a
degree (82%); second-generation immigrants (86%);
those who had been in the UK more than 30 years
(80%); and those interested in news (80%). Predictably,
fewer respondents who did not speak English usually
watched any of these programmes (47%).
EastEnders was more likely to be watched by
Pakistanis (40%) and Bangladeshis (37%). Crimewatch
was more likely to be watched by Pakistanis (33%) and
Other Muslims (38%).
These were followed by current affairs programmes,
Newsnight (24%) and Panorama (20%) and then by
the soaps, The Bill (18%) and Coronation Street (16%).

32
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Figure 18: TV programmes would watch if specific issue of interest

Crimewatch 31 per cent TV programmes usually watched % 9 per cent TV programmes not currently Total
watched but would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims Total 40%
Eastenders 33 per cent TV programmes usually watched 4 per cent TV programmes not currently
(%)
watched but would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims
Crimewatch 31 Total 37% 9 40
Panorama 20 per cent TV programmes usually watched 17 per cent TV programmes not currently
watched but would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims Total 37%
Newsnight EastEnders
24 per cent TV programmes usually watched 33 4
12 per cent TV programmes 37
not currently
watched but would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims Total 36%
The Bill 18 per cent TVPanorama
programmes usually watched 20 4 per cent TV programmes
17 not currently watched
37
but would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims Total 22%
Dispatches 13 per cent TV programmes usually watched 8 per cent TV programmes not currently
watched but would watch Newsnight 24 Muslims Total 21%
if featured issues affecting 12 36
Coronation Street 16 per cent TV programmes usually watched 4 per cent TV programmes not
currently watched but would watch if featured18issues affecting Muslims Total 20%
The Bill 22
Question time 11 per cent TV programmes usually watched 4 5 per cent TV programmes not currently
watched but would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims Total 16%
Casualty 9 per cent TVDispatches
programmes usually13watched 21
87 per cent TV programmes not currently watched
but would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims Total 16%
Tonight with Trevor McDonald
Coronation Street 11 per cent16TV programmes 4 usually watched 4 per cent TV 20
programmes not currently watched but would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims Total 15%
Hollyoaks 12 per cent TV programmes usually watched 2 per cent TV programmes not currently
watched but would Question
watch iftime 11 affecting Muslims
featured issues 5 Total 14% 16
Emmerdale 9 per cent TV programmes usually watched 3 per cent TV programmes not currently
watched but would watch if featured issues
Casualty 9 affecting7Muslims Total 12% 16
Holby City 7 per cent TV programmes usually watched 5 per cent TV programmes not currently
watched but would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims Total 12%
HaveTonight with Trevor
I got news McDonald
for you 11
6 per cent TV programmes 4usually watched 4 per cent TV programmes 15 not
currently watched but would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims Total 10%
Mock the Week 4 perHollyoaks
cent TV programmes 12 usually watched
2 3 per cent TV programmes not currently
14
watched but would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims Total 7%
Emmerdale 9 3 12

Holby City 7 5 12

Have I got news for you 6 4 10

Mock the Week 4 3 7

TV programmes usually watched

TV programmes not currently watched but would watch if featured issues affecting Muslims

Source: Q24 / Q27

Base: All respondents (1124)

TV programmes would watch if Radio stations listened to/

featured issues affecting Muslims
For programmes they did not currently watch,
respondents were asked which they would watch if
that programme featured issues affecting Muslims.
Figure 18 shows the programmes usually watched (as
shown in Figure 17) and the additional viewing that
would accrue to each programme if it featured issues
of interest.
Panorama was the programme most likely to be
watched if it featured an issue affecting Muslims,
being mentioned by 17 per cent of respondents in this
context. Newsnight also figured, being mentioned
by 12 per cent. In total this would mean approaching
two-fifths of the sample (Panorama – 37%; Newsnight
– 36%), would watch each of these programmes.
frequency of listening
Using a prompted list respondents were asked which
radio stations they listened to and how frequently
they listened to each one. Figure 19 shows the main
radio stations mentioned and again uses a ‘traffic-
light’ system to indicate frequency of listening. Green
indicates that 40 per cent or more of those who listen
do so daily, amber is 30–39 per cent listen daily and
red 29 per cent or less.
Just under half of those interviewed (46%) listened to
any radio station. BBC Asian Network (11%), BBC Radio
1 (9%) and Sunrise Radio (9%) were the stations most
likely to be listened to. All three of these stations were
listened to daily by between 30 per cent and 39 per 33
cent of respondents.
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure 19: Radio stations listened to and frequency

BBC Asian Network 11 per cent ‘Listen Daily’ Frequency = 30-39% Lower Among: Been in UK 5 years or
%
less (5%), not interested in religion/culture (4%)
BBC Radio 1 9 per cent ‘Listen Daily’ Frequency = 30-39% Higher among: Degree+ (18%), Lower Among:
Over 45s (4%)
Sunrise Radio 9 per cent ‘Listen Daily’ Frequency = 30-39% Higher among: 2nd/ 3rd generation (13%), 25-34s
(15%), Lower Among: Non educated (5%) Not interested Lower among: Been(5%)
in entertainment in UK 5 years or less (5%), not
Kiss 100 BBC
FM Asian7Network 11
per cent ‘Listen Daily’ Frequency = 40% or greater Higher
interested among: 16-24s
in religion/culture (14%)
(4%)
BBC Five Live 5 per cent ‘Listen Daily’ Frequency = 40% or greater Higher among: Males (8%), GCSE+ Degree-
(10%)
Rammadan Radio 5 per cent ‘Listen Daily’ Frequency = 29% or less 34% once a year or less
Any (net) 46 per cent Higher among: Degree+ (18%),
BBC Radio 1 9
Lower among: Over 45s (4%)

Higher among: 2nd/3rd generation (13%), 25-34s (15%),

Sunrise Radio 9 Lower among: Non educated (5%) Not interested in
entertainment (5%)

Kiss 100 FM 7 Higher among: 16-24s (14%)

BBC Five Live 5 Higher among: Males (8%), GCSE+ Degree- (10%)

Rammadan Radio 5

34% once
Any (net) 46
a year
or less

‘Listen Daily’ Frequency = 40% or greater = 30-39% = 29% or less

Note: Only shown >5%

Source: Q28 Which of the following radio stations do you listen to at all nowadays?
Q29 And how frequently do you normally listen to each of these?
Base: All respondents (1124)/All who listen to each radio station

No particular group was more likely to listen to BBC Table 15 shows listening by ethnic group.
Asian Network, though those with a degree were
more likely to listen to BBC Radio 1 (18%).
Pakistanis were more likely than most other ethnic
groups to listen to BBC Asian Network (17%) and
Kiss 100 FM and BBC Five Live had fewer listeners
Sunrise Radio (15%). Turkish/Kurdish respondents
(7% and 5% respectively), but were more likely to be
were more likely to listen to Heart 106.2 FM than most
listened to daily.
other groups (12%) and also – along with Iraqis – to
Choice FM and Classic FM.
A full list of other radio stations listened to is included
for reference in the Appendix.

34
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Table 15: Radio stations listened to by ethnic group

Somali/
Other North Turkish/ Other
% Total Pakistani Bangladeshi Iraqi
East African Kurdish Muslim
African
Base (1124) (306) (124) (133) (175) (145) (126) (144)
Any (Net) 46 48in 36 30 39 37 50bin 53bisn
BBC Asian
11 17isnt 8nt 2 2 1 1 9snt
Network
BBC Radio 1 9 8 9 9 11 7 10 11
Sunrise Radio
(Greater 9 15bisnto 6 2 - - - 7snt
London)
Kiss 100 FM 7 5 7 5 7 11p 10 10
BBC Five Live 5 5 2 4 10bt 5 1 7
Rammadan
5 6 3 2 3 5 5 5
Radio
BBC Radio 4 4 4 1 3 8b 9pbt 3 4
Galaxy 4 3 6 - 1 - - 4
Heart 106.2 FM 3 2 2 5 4 4 12pbsno 3
Magic 3 3 2 5 3 9pbo 6 3
TalkSPORT 3 3 - 1 4b 3 4b 6b
LBC News 1152 3 2 3 4 2 5 1 3
Choice FM 3 1 2 10pbsn 2 1 8pbsn 4
Classic FM 2 1 2 6po 3 4 7pbo 2
BBC Worldwide 1 1 2 1 4p 6po 3 1
None of these 54 52 64to 70pto 61o 63o 50 47
Sig higher than:
p=Pakistani, b=Bangladeshi, i=Iraqi, s=Somali/other East African, n=North African, t=Turkish/Kurdish, o=Other
Muslim
Note: Only shown >5%
Source: Q28 Which of the following radio stations do you listen to at all nowadays?
Base: All respondents (1124)

Newspapers read/frequency of Just over two-thirds of respondents (67%) read any

reading newspapers.

Respondents were asked which of a list of newspapers

Readership of Metro was highest at 24 per cent, which
they read at all nowadays and how frequently they
is much higher than among the general population
did so. The main papers read are shown in Figure
and is no doubt due to the concentration of Muslims
20 and once again a ‘traffic-light’ system is used to
in urban areas. Younger respondents (16–34 – 30%)
denote the frequency of reading of each one. In this
and those educated to degree level or above were
instance green indicates 50 per cent or more read
more likely to read Metro.
daily, amber is 40–49 per cent and red is 39 per cent
or less reading so frequently. 35
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure 20: Newspapers read and frequency

General population* 5% Metro 24 per cent ‘Read
General % Daily’ Frequency = 50% or greater Higher among: 16-34s
(30%), Degree+ (40%), In UK 6-10 years (38%)
population*
General population* 16% The Sun 17 per cent ‘Read Daily’ Frequency = 40-49% Higher among: Males (21%), 16-
34s (21%), V interested in entertainment (22%) Higher among: 16-34s (30%), Degree+ (40%),
General Metro
5% population* 8% Daily Mirror 9 per cent ‘Read Daily’
24 Frequency =In50% or greater Higher among:
Males (12%), NE (17%), Interested in News (13%) UK 6-10 years (38%)
General population* 11% Daily Mail 7 per cent ‘Read Daily’ Frequency = 40-49%
General population* 2% The Guardian 6 per cent ‘Read Daily’ Frequency = 50% or greater
General population* NA
16%population* 3% The
The Daily Jang 5 per cent17‘Read Daily’Higher among:
Frequency Males (21%), 16-34s (21%),
= 40-49%
General TheSun
Times 5 per cent ‘Read Daily’ Frequency = 39%
V interested or less
in entertainment (22%)
Any newspaper 67 per cent
Higher among: Males (12%), NE (17%),
8% Daily Mirror 9 Interested in News (13%)

11% Daily Mail 7

2% The Guardian 6

NA The Daily Jang 5

3% The Times 5

Any newspaper 67

‘Read Daily’ Frequency = 50% or greater = 40-49% = 39% or less

*NRS Jan-Dec 07
Note: Only shown >5%
Source: Q30 Which of the following newspapers do you read at all nowadays?
Q31 And how frequently do you normally read each of these?
Base: All respondents (1124) / All who read each newspaper

The Sun is the tabloid with the highest readership
(17%), followed some way behind by the Daily Mirror
and the Daily Mail (9% and 6% respectively). The
Sun was more likely to be read by males (21%) and
younger respondents (16–34 – 21%) and also by those
very interested in entertainment (22%). The Daily
Mirror was more likely to be read by males (12%); by
those in the North East (17%) and those interested in
news (13%).
Among the broadsheets, readership of The Guardian
and The Times was on a par (6% and 5% respectively).
36 The Daily Jang was the specialist ethnic minority
paper with the highest number of mentions at five
per cent.
Metro, the Daily Mirror and The Guardian were read
more frequently than other publications, with 50 per
cent or more of those who read nowadays reading
them daily or on most days.
A full list of other newspapers read is included for
reference in the Appendix.
Table 16 shows readership by ethnic group.
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Table 16: Newspaper readership by ethnic group

Somali/
Other North Turkish/ Other
% Total Pakistani Bangladeshi Iraqi
East African Kurdish Muslim
African
Base (1124) (306) (124) (133) (175) (145) (126) (144)
Metro 24 24 17 36 39 37 28 25
The Sun 17 14 19 15 19 18 30 17
Daily Mirror 9 6 8 8 13 14 12 14
Daily Mail 7 6 3 4 6 5 5 12
The Guardian 6 5 4 6 11 10 8 7
The Daily Jang 5 10 - - - 1 - 3
The Times 5 6 1 4 7 8 8 4
The Daily Telegraph 4 6 1 3 2 - 4 4
News of the World 4 3 4 3 2 2 1 8
London Lite 4 2 3 21 7 20 10 2
The Independent 3 3 2 3 4 4 6 3
The London Paper 2 2 2 4 2 10 8 2
Sunday Times 2 1 2 3 2 2 1 4
Sunday Mirror 2 2 4 2 1 3 3 3
The Muslim News 2 3 1 3 6 4 - 1
Daily Star 1 1 2 1 4 5 - 2
Turkish newspapers - - - 1 - - 10 -
Other 2 1 6 2 1 2 7 -
None of these 33 33 41 32 24 36 22 29
Note: Only shown >5%
Source: Q30 Which of the following newspapers do you read at all nowadays?
Base: All respondents (1124)

Iraqis, Somalis/Other East Africans and North Africans Magazines read/frequency of

were more likely than other ethnic groups to read reading
Metro, while among the smaller titles Iraqis and North
Respondents were asked which of a list of magazines
Africans were also more likely to read London Lite.
they read at all nowadays and how frequently they
read each one. The magazines read are shown in
Turkish/Kurdish respondents were more likely to read
Figure 21, but the frequency measure is not shown
The Sun (30%) and Pakistanis were, unsurprisingly,
as the base size for each magazine was too small to
more likely to read the Daily Jang (10%). Bangladeshis,
permit robust analysis.
however, were more likely than other ethnic groups to
read no newspapers at all (41%).

37
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure 21: Magazines read

General population* 5 OK 4 per cent Higher among: Females (6%), V interested in Entertainment (8%) not
General
religion (9%)
population* NA Asian Woman % 4 per cent Higher among: Females (8%), 16-24s (8%), 2nd Gen (7%), V
population*
General
interested in entertainment (7%) Higher among: Females (6%), V interested in
General population*
5 4 Hello 4 per cent Higher among: Females (6%), (8%)
entertainment Not not
interested
religion in
(9%)religion/culture
(9%) OK 4
General population* 3 Auto Trader 3 per cent Higher among: Males (6%)
GeneralNApopulation* 8 What’s on TV
Asian Woman 34per cent Higher among:
Higher among:Females
Females(5%),
(8%),16-24s
16-24s (6%), V interested in
(8%), 2nd
Entertainment (7%) Gen (7%), V interested in entertainment (7%)
General population* 4 Heat 3 per cent Higher among: Females (5%), 16-24s (7%), V interested in
Entertainment
4 (7%) Hello 4
General population* NA Asian Choice Magazine 2 per cent
Higher among: Females (6%),
General population*
3
3 Glamour 2 per cent Not interested in religion/culture (9%)
Auto Trader
General population* 2 Woman & Home 32 per cent
General population* 6 Take a Break 2 per cent
General population*
8 4 TVWhat's
Times TV2 per cent
General population* NA Sport’son 3 per cent
magazines 2 Higher among: Males (6%)
General population* 4 Cosmopolitan 2 per cent
General population*
4 NA Net: Any 27 per cent
Heat 3
Higher among: Females (5%), 16-24s
NA Asian Choice Magazine 2 (6%), V interested in entertainment (7%)

3 Glamour 2 Higher among: Females (5%), 16-24s (7%), V interested

in entertainment (7%)
2 Woman & Home 2

6 Take a Break 2

4 TV Times 2

NA Sport's magazines 2

4 Cosmopolitan 2

NA Net: Any 27

NB Base sizes too low to look at frequency

Source: Q32 Which of the following magazines do you read at all nowadays?
Q33 And how frequently do you normally read each of these?
Base: All respondents (1124)

Just over a quarter of respondents read any Internet access, forums/blogs and
magazines. This is lower than other media, but is in website usage
line with the general population.
All survey participants were asked whether they had
access to the Internet. Users were asked how often
All titles received relatively low levels of mentions,
they accessed it and where this took place. They were
with OK, Asian Woman and Hello being most
also asked whether they ever logged onto discussion
frequently mentioned (each by four per cent of the
forums or used blogs to talk about or listen to issues
sample). Not surprisingly, each of these titles was
affecting them and their community and which types
more likely to be mentioned by females.
of websites they used. Usage of specific websites was
also investigated.
There was relatively little variation in magazine
readership by ethnic group.
Figure 22 summarises the measures relating to
Internet access.
A full list of other magazines read is included for
reference in the Appendix.
38
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Figure 22: Internet access

Q.15 Do you have access to the Internet?
Yes 61 per cent Higher among: 16-24s (76%), Higher than
No Q.15
Do 39you
perhave
centaccess to the Internet? GCSE (69%). English main Lang (66%)
Higher among: 16-24s (83%), educated (74%), English main language (72%)
Q16 Where do you have access to the Internet? Q17 How often do you access the Internet?
At home\In someone else’s home 88 per cent
Public place (e.g. library/internet cafe ) School\College\University\Other learning centre 19 per cent
At work 17 per cent Daily
Outside home (Net) 11 per cent
Somewhere outside theHigher
elseYes
No via home among: 7 per cent
Anywhere a Mobile Phone\via
16-24s (83%),blackberry
educated 3 per cent Most days
61%
39% or voluntary
Community organisation
(74%), English main1 per cent 58
DK 1 per cent % Weekly
Higher among: 16-24s (92%),language (72%) (94%), Pakistanis
2nd generation (94%), Iraqis (96%)
Monthly
Q17 How often do you access the Internet?
Never 7 per cent 19 Less than once a month
Less than once a month 3 per cent
Monthly 2 per cent 2 11
Weekly 11 per cent Never
Most days 19 per cent 3 7
Daily 58 per cent Average: 260 times/year
Higher among: 16-24s (76%), Higher than GCSE (69%). English main Lang % (66%)
Average: 260 do
Q16 Where times/year
you have access to the Internet?

At home\In someone else's home 88

Public place (e.g. library/internet cafe ) School\College\University\ 19

Other learning centre
At work 17
Higher among:
Outside home (Net) 11
16-24s (92%),
Somewhere else outside the home 7 2nd generation (94%),
Anywhere via a Mobile Phone\via blackberry 3 Pakistanis (94%),
Iraqis (96%)
Community or voluntary organisation 1

DK 1

Source: Q15 (1124), Q16 (683), Q17 (683)

Base: All respondents / All respondents who have Internet access

Three out of five respondents (61%) had Internet
access. This is broadly in line with the general
population, 66 per cent of whom access the Internet.
Using the Internet was more common among the
youngest age group (16–24 – 83%); among those
educated to GCSE or above (74%) and among those
for whom English was their main language (72%).
The majority of Internet users – almost three out of
five (58%) – accessed it daily, with a further fifth (19%)
doing so on most days. A further 11 per cent accessed
it weekly. On average, those with Internet access did
so 260 times a year.
Daily usage was higher among the youngest age
group (16–24 – 76%), among those with education
above GCSE level (69%) and where English was their
main language (66%).
The vast majority (88%) had Internet access in their
or someone else’s home. Having access at home/
someone else’s home was more likely among the
youngest group (16–24 – 92%) and those who were
second-generation immigrants (94%) and also among
Iraqis (96%) and Pakistanis (94%).
Some 19 per cent accessed it at their place of
education or a library/Internet café and 17 per cent
did so at work.
Comparing the profile of those without Internet
access to those who had it, respondents without
access were more likely to be aged 55+ (27% versus
7%) and to have no qualifications (40% versus 17%).
They were also more likely not to speak English
regularly (63% versus 78%) and less likely to have it
as their main language (29% versus 45%). In line with
this, they were more likely to have been born outside 39
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure 23: Participation in discussion forums and blogs

Q18 DoQ18you
Doever log log
you ever on on
to to
discussion
discussion forums
forums oror use blogs toWhich
Q19 talk about or listen
discussion toorissues
forums blogs that affect
do you use? you and
your community?
use blogs to talk about or listen to issues that
No 92 per cent
Yes affect youcent
8 per and your community?
Higher among: 25-34s (14%)
BBC 8
Q19 Which discussion forums or blogs do you use?
BBC 8 per cent
Pal Talk 4 per cent
MSN 3 per cent Pal Talk 4
Somali websites 2 per cent

Other 91 per cent
Don’t know 5 per cent MSN 3

Higher among: Somali

2
Yes 25-34s (14%) websites
8%
No
92%

Other 91

Don't know 5

Source: Q18 (683), Q19 (54)

Base: All respondents with internet access

the UK (77% versus 57%). They were less likely to read being the BBC (by 8%). Others mentioned were Pal
any newspapers at all nowadays (55% versus 75%). Talk (4%), MSN (3%) and Somali websites (2%).

Figure 23 shows the results for discussion forums and
blogs among those with Internet access.
A minority of those who accessed the Internet logged
onto forums/blogs (8%), though this was higher
among younger respondents (25–34 – 14%). There
was very little variation by ethnic group in terms of
whether forums/blogs were used.
Not surprisingly, a wide range of forums/blogs were
used and any single one was mentioned by relatively
few respondents – the most commonly mentioned
40
Figure 24 shows the types of websites visited by those
with Internet access (all sites mentioned by more than
five per cent of the sample are shown). A prompted
list of website types was shown and respondents
were asked which they visited at all nowadays.
Education was the type of website mentioned most
frequently (by 27%) of those who accessed the
Internet. Music (23%), news (23%), jobs/recruitment
(22%) and sports (22%) websites were the other types
most likely to be visited.
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Figure 24: Types of websites visited

Education 27 per cent Higher among:%16-24s (37%), Degree+ (38%), in UK 5yrs or less (44%)
Music 23 per cent Higher among: 16-24s (44%), In UK 10yrs or less (35%)
News headlines 23 per cent Higher among: Males (28%) Higher among: 16-24s (37%), Degree+ (38%), in
Jobs\recruitment
Education 22 per cent Higher among: 25-34s (28%), Degree+ 27(40%), 2nd Gen (28%), inorUK
UK 5yrs less 5 years or less
(44%)
(40%)
Sports 22 per cent Higher among: Males (35%), Higher than GCSE (30%), In UK 10 years or less (34%)
Films\cinema 18 per cent Higher among: 16-34 (24%), in UK 5 years or less (33%)
Religious guidance\info
Music 12 per cent 23 Higher among: 16-24s (44%), In UK 10yrs or less (35%)
Games 12 per cent Higher among: 16-24 (21%), v-interested entertainment (20%)
Health 11 per cent Higher among: Females (16%), 25-34s (19%)
Shopping\retail (grocery) 11 per cent
News headlines 23
Higher among: Males (28%)

22 Higher among: 25-34s (28%), Degree+ (40%), 2nd Gen

Jobs\recruitment
(28%), in UK 5 years or less (40%)

Higher among: Males (35%), Higher than GCSE (30%),

Sports 22 In UK 10 years or less (34%)

Films\cinema 18 Higher among: 16-34 (24%), in UK 5 years or less (33%)

Religious
guidance\info 12

Games 12 Higher among: 16-24 (21%), v-interested entertainment (20%)

Health 11 Higher among: Females (16%), 25-34s (19%)

Shopping\
retail (grocery) 11

Note: Only shown >5%

Source: Q34 Which of the following types of website do you visit at all nowadays? 
Base: All respondents with Internet access (683)

Film/cinema sites were mentioned by 18 per cent
and games by 12 per cent. The same proportion
(12%) mentioned websites which gave religious
guidance and information. Health-related websites
and shopping/retail (including grocery) were each
mentioned by 11 per cent of respondents.
Education websites were mentioned more frequently
by the youngest respondents (16–24 – 37%), by those
with a degree or above (38%) and by those who
had been in the UK for five years or less (44%). It is
possible that some of these respondents are in higher
education in the UK.
Music, films and games websites were more likely to
be mentioned by 16- to 24-year-olds (by 44%, 24%
and 21% respectively). Recruitment websites were
more likely to be mentioned by 25- to 34-year-olds
(28%), by those with a degree or above (40%) and
respondents who had been in the UK five years or less
(40%).
There was relatively little variation in the types of
website visited by the various ethnic groups.
Respondents were also asked which of a list of specific
websites they had visited more than once and how
frequently they visited them. This is shown in Figure
25, which again uses a ‘traffic-light’ system to show
frequency of use. In this instance green indicates 60
per cent or more visit daily, amber is 40–59 per cent
and red shows that 39 per cent or less visit daily. 41
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure 25: Websites visited and frequency

Google 68 per cent ‘Visit every day/most days’ Frequency = 60% or greater %
Youtube 43 per cent ‘Visit every day/most%days’ Frequency = 40-59%
Yahoo 35 per cent ‘Visit every day/most days’ Frequency = 60% or greater
Ebay 31 per cent ‘Visit every day/most days’ Frequency = 39% or less
MSN 29 per cent ‘VisitGoogle
every day/most days’ Frequency = 60% or68 greater Yell.com 7
BBC 24 per cent ‘Visit every day/most days’ Frequency = 40-59%
Facebook 20 per cent ‘Visit every day/most days’ Frequency = 60% or greater
Sky news 15 per cent ‘Visit every day/most days’ Frequency = 60% or greater
Islam online 10 perYoutube
cent ‘Visit every day/most days’43Frequency = 39% or less Directgov 7
Myspace 8 per cent ‘Visit every day/most days’ Frequency = 40-59%
Yell.com 7 per cent
Directgov 7 per cent
Al Jazeera (English) 6 per cent
Yahoo 35
Multimap 3 per cent Al Jazeera (English) 6
Channel 4 3 per cent
Al Jazeera (Arabic) 2 per cent
Muslim Youth Net 2 per cent
Foreign Office website 2Ebay per cent 31
Mpacuk.com 1 per cent Multimap 3

MSN 29
Channel 4 3
BBC 24
Al Jazeera (Arabic) 2
Facebook 20

Muslim Youth Net 2

Sky news 15

Foreign Office website 2

Islam online 10

Myspace Mpacuk.com 1
8

‘Visit every day/most days’ Frequency = 60% or greater = 40-59% = 39% or less

Source: Q35 Which of the following websites have you visited (more than once)?
Q36 And how frequently do you normally visit each of these sites?
Base: All respondents with Internet access (683)/All who visit each website

The website most likely to be visited was Google,
which just over two-thirds of respondents with
Internet access (68%) had visited more than once.
This was followed by YouTube (43%) and Yahoo (35%).
Google and Yahoo were used more frequently than
YouTube.
Other sites used by around three out of ten
respondents were eBay (31%) and MSN (29%). The
BBC website was used by a quarter of them (24%) and
Facebook by one in five (20%). The only other sites
used by one in ten or more of these respondents were
Sky News (15%) and Islam Online (10%). In total, 16 per
cent of the sample visited any ethnic minority site.
42
There was relatively little significant variation by
ethnic group in the specific sites that were visited.
However, Somali and North African respondents were
more likely to visit ethnic minority sites, particularly
Islam Online (14% and 15% respectively) and Al
Jazeera English (17% and 15%) and Al Jazeera Arabic
(10% and 21% respectively). Iraqis were also more
likely than most other groups to use Al Jazeera Arabic.
A full list of other websites used is included for
reference in Appendix 1.
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

7. Information sources used to find out about

interest areas

Respondents were asked which media channels they
used to find out about different types of information
and then which specific television channels,
publications and online sources they used for each
purpose.
Reminder: Interest in key types of
information
To set the scene before discussing the media channels
used, this section recaps on respondents’ interest in
key types of information, as discussed in Chapter 5
above.
Claimed interest in all four topics was high, but the
highest level of interest was in religion and culture,
with more than nine out of ten (92%) British Muslims
interested in this topic and over half (55%) ‘very
interested’ in it. This is in contrast to all of the other
topics, where only between a quarter and a third
claimed to be very interested.
Around four out of five were interested in each of
domestic and international news (82% in each case),
although somewhat more were ‘very interested’ in
world news (35%) compared to domestic issues (27%).
Slightly fewer – but still three-quarters of the sample
– (76%) were interested in entertainment.
Media used for different types of
information
Respondents were asked which of the following
channels they used to find out about the topics
discussed in the section above. Table 17 summarises
this information.

Figure 26: Interest in key types of information

Your religion and culture Very interested (4) 55 per cent Fairly interested (3) 37 per cent
Your religion
Not very interested Domestic
(2) 7 per cent International
Not at all interested Entertainment
(1) 1 per cent DK 1 per cent
Domestic newsandVery interested (4)
culture 27 per cent Fairly
news interested (3) 55 per cent
news
Not very interested (2) 13 per cent Not at all interested (1) 3 per cent DK 1 per cent
International news Very interested (4) 35 percent Fairly interested (3) 47 per cent
Not very interested (2) 13 per cent Not at all interested (1) 5 per cent DK 1 per cent Very
Entertainment Very interested (4) 28 per cent Fairly interested (3) 48 per cent interested (4)
Not very interested (2) 15 per cent Not at all interested (1) 8 per cent 28DK 1 per cent
27 35
Fairly
55 interested (3)

82% 82% 76% Not very

92%
% interested (2)

55 48
47 Not at all
interested (1)

37
DK
15
13 13
7 5 8
3

Source: Q57 How interested if at all would you say you are in each of these different areas? 43
Base: All respondents (1124)
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Table 17: Media used for different types of information

Religion & Culture Domestic News International News Entertainment
% % % %
NEWSPAPERS (NET) 23 43 29 20
RADIO (NET) 9 12 10 10
TELEVISION (NET) 59 63 74 62
THE INTERNET (NET) 27 17 23 23
SPECIALIST/ETHNIC
33 13 17 18
MINORITY (NET)
Source: Q37-40 Which of the following do you use to find out about?
Base: All respondents (1124)

Television was the key channel for all types of
information. This was particularly so for international
news, which 74 per cent of respondents accessed via
TV, compared to domestic news (63%), entertainment
(62%) or religion and culture (59%).
and culture were more likely to use specialist/ethnic
minority media channels (33%).
While only around one in ten used radio, it figured
consistently for all these types of information.

Newspapers were primarily used for domestic news Table 18 shows the subgroups which were more likely
information (43%), but also for international news to use each channel to find out information about a
(29%). Those seeking information about religion particular topic.

Table 18: Subgroups’ use of media to find out about key types of information
Higher Amongst
Religion & Culture Domestic News International News Entertainment
In UK 21-30 yrs (31%), speak Males (46%), 16-
English and other language, 24s (51%), E.Mids Males (33%), 16-34s (22%),
NEWSPAPERS (26%), GCSE only (27%), (59%), Educated Degree+ (44%), V Degree+ (28%), V
(NET) Degree+ (27%), V interested (50%), 2nd Gen interested in news interested in news
in news (34%)/entertainment (51%), V interested (39%) (25%)
(28%) in news (57%)
35-54s (18%),
North (20%), 45-54s (19%), NW
45-54s (15%), North (15%), V NW (19%),
RADIO (NET) Degree+ (20%), V (19%), V interested in
interested in news (13%) Degree+ (16%),
interested in news news (15%)
(17%)
Males (20%), Males (27%), 16-34s Males (26%),
16-34s (38%), NE (40%), 16-34s (24%), (31%), E.Mids (33%), 16-24s (42%),
Educated (37%), 2nd Gen E.Mids (28%), GCSE+ (37%), 2nd North (31%),
THE INTERNET
(39%), In UK 5 yrs or less Higher than GCSE Gen (29%), in UK E.Mids (30%),
(NET)
(37%), V interested in News/ (26%), 2nd Gen 5 yrs or less (34%), V GCSE+ (37%), 2nd
entertainment (33%) (26%), V interested interested in news Gen (34%), in UK 5
in news (23%) (30%) years or less (38%)
SPECIALIST/ 35-54s (38%), NE (41%) E.Mids 35-44s (23%), E.Mids E.Mids (29%), In
Been in UK 6-10
ETHNIC (44%), V interested in religion (31%), Don’t speak UK 5 years or less
years (21%)
MINORITY (NET) & culture (40%)/news (39%) English (24%) (28%),
44 Source: Q37-40 Which of the following do you use to find out about?
Base: All respondents (1124)
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Figure 27: Key differences in channel use by ethnic group

Iraqis North Africans Turkish/Kurdish Other Muslims

Higher on: Higher on: Higher on: Higher on:
DOMESTIC NEWS: RELIGION & DOMESTIC NEWS: RELIGION &
Internet (vs. CULTURE: Specialist/ethnic CULTURE:
Pakistanis) Internet (vs. minority sources Internet (vs.
Bangladeshis, (vs. Pakistanis, Bangladeshis)
ENTERTAINMENT: Somali/Other East Bangladeshis,
Specialist/ethnic Africans) Somali/Other East DOMESTIC NEWS:
minority sources (vs. Africans, other Radio (vs.
Pakistanis, Somali/ DOMESTIC NEWS: Muslims) Bangladeshis)
Other East Africans) Radio (vs. Internet (vs.
Bangladeshis) INTERNATIONAL Pakistanis)
Lower on: Internet (vs. NEWS:
ENTERTAINMENT: Pakistanis, Radio (vs. INTERNATIONAL
Radio (vs. all except Bangladeshis, Bangladeshis, Iraqis) NEWS:
Bangladeshis) Somali/Other East Specialist/ethnic Internet (vs.
Africans) minority sources (vs. Pakistanis)
Pakistanis, Somali/
INTERNATIONAL Other East Africans, ENTERTAINMENT:
NEWS: other Muslims) Internet (vs. Somali/
Radio (vs. Iraqis) Other East Africans,
Internet (vs. ENTERTAINMENT: Pakistanis and
Pakistanis, Internet (vs. Somali/ Bangladeshis)
Bangladeshis, Other East Africans)
Turkish/Kurdish) Specialist/ethnic
minority sources (vs.
ENTERTAINMENT: all except Iraqis)
Internet (vs. Somali/
Other East Africans)

The key themes which emerged were the use of
radio by respondents aged 35 and over and the use
of the Internet by younger respondents. In addition,
those who had been in the UK for five years or less
were more likely to use the Internet for most types of
information.
Figure 27 summarises key differences in channel use
which were observed between various ethnic groups.
Table 19 examines in more detail the specific
television stations used to access key types of
information.
Clearly, BBC One dominates for both types of news
and also for entertainment. A third used BBC One for
domestic news (33%), slightly fewer for international
news (30%) and a fifth (21%) for information about
entertainment. Dedicated news channels – BBC News
24 (20%) and Sky News (21%) were also strongly used
for international news and to a slightly lesser extent
for domestic news.
The Islam Channel was the key source for information
about religion and culture, being used by 27 per cent
of those interviewed.

45
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Table 19: TV channels used to find out about key types of information (1)
Religion & Culture Domestic News International News Entertainment
% % % %
The Islam Channel 27 3 3 3
GEO TV 12 6 12 8
BBC One 8 33 30 21
PTV Prime 7 2 2 2
ITV 1 3 16 12 14
ARY One World 6 3 6 -
Channel 4\S4C 3 8 6 9
BBC Two 4 10 9 11
BBC News 24 4 16 20 3
Sky News 3 14 21 3
CNN 1 3 7 2
Five (Channel 5) 2 6 5 10
AJ Arabic 5 3 4 2
Prime TV 5 1 1 3
Bangla TV 5 2 3 3
Note: Only shown >5%
Source: Q49-52 Which television stations or channels do you use to find out about ….
Base: All respondents (1124)

46
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

8. Information sources used to find out about

interest areas

For each of the areas of interest respondents were
shown a list of possible information sources and asked
to choose the ones they trusted most and least. At the
‘trusted’ question they were asked to select up to five
trusted sources for each information type. For sources
they did not trust, no limit was set and respondents
simply selected those they did not trust.
Figure 28 shows the main sources that were
mentioned as trusted for each information type. In
some cases the level of mentions of specific sources
was very low and all sources within that type have
been aggregated to show a total for that channel e.g.
‘any Internet’.
For information on religion and culture, word-of-
mouth channels were most trusted, with over half
(54%) mentioning their parents and almost as many
(47%) mentioning community, youth or religious
leaders. The same proportion (47%) mentioned
Islamic books/CDs/DVDs.
All other sources were mentioned by considerably
fewer respondents in the context of religion and
culture.
Looking at domestic news, the most trusted sources
were newspapers (35%) and television (33%). Around
half as many respondents mentioned either the
Internet (18%) or the Government/police/local
authorities (17%) in this context.

Figure 28: Trusted sources of information

Religion/Culture Parents 54 per cent Community/youth/religious leaders 47 per cent Islamic Books/
CDs/DVDs Religion/Culture Domestic News International News Entertainment
47 per cent Any Internet
20 per cent Any TV%15 per cent Any Newspapers
% 10 per cent
% Government/police/local
%
authorities 9 per cent Any specialist/ethnic minority 8 per cent Any Radio 4 per cent
Domestic News Parents
Parents 14 per cent Community/youth/religious leaders 8 per cent Islamic Books/
CDs/DVDs 54 14 10 6
4 per cent Any Internet
18 per cent Any TV 33 per cent Any Newspapers 35 per cent Government/police/local
authorities 17 per cent Any specialist/ethnic minority 8 per cent Any Radio 9 per cent
Community/youth/
International News
religious leaders Parents 10 per47
cent 8Community/youth/religious
6 leaders 6 per4cent Islamic
Books/CDs/DVDs
3 per cent Any Internet
27 per cent Any TV 47 per cent
Islamic Books/ Any Newspapers 24 per cent Government/police/local
authorities 8 per cent
CDs/DVDs
Any specialist/ethnic
47 minority
4 11 per cent Any
3 Radio 6 per cent 4
Entertainment Parents 6 per cent Community/youth/religious leaders 4 per cent Islamic Books/
CDs/DVDs
4 per cent Any Internet
15 per cent Any Internet
Any TV 39 per20cent Any Newspapers 19 per cent Government/police/local
27 15
authorities 3 per cent Any specialist/ethnic minority188 per cent Any Radio 9 per cent

Any TV 15 33 47 39

Any Newspapers 10 35 24 19

Government/police/
9 17 8 3
local authorities

Any specialist/
ethnic minority 8 8 11 8

Any Radio 4 9 6 9

Source: Q58 Please select the most trusted sources of information for each area of interest (up to 5) 47
Base: All respondents (1124)
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure 29: Non-trusted sources of information

Religion/Culture Government/police/local authorities’ 26 per cent Any Newspapers 22 per cent Any
Internet 21 per cent Religion/Culture
Any Radio 10 per cent Domestic
Any News
TV International News Entertainment
9 per cent Community/youth/religious
% leaders
% 8 per cent Islamic
% Books/CDs/DVDs
% 6 per cent
Any specialist/ethnic minority 6 per cent Parents 4 per cent
Domestic News Government/police/local authorities’ 14 per cent Any Newspapers 21 per cent
Government/police/ Any
Internet 17 perauthorities
local cent Any Radio 26 7 per cent Any14TV 12 8
8 per cent Community/youth/religious leaders 5 per cent Islamic Books/CDs/DVDs 3 per cent
Any specialist/ethnic minority 6 per cent Parents 2 per cent
International News Government/police/local authorities’ 12 per cent Any Newspapers 19 per cent
Any Internet 21 per cent Any Radio
Any Newspapers 22 9 per cent Any21TV 19 11
10 per cent Community/youth/religious leaders 4 per cent Islamic Books/CDs/DVDs 3 per cent
Any specialist/ethnic minority 6 per cent Parents 2 per cent
Entertainment Government/police/local authorities’ 8 per cent Any Newspapers 11 per cent Any
Internet 12 per
Anycent
Internet Any Radio21 7 per cent Any
17 TV 21 12
6 per cent Community/youth/religious leaders 3 per cent Islamic Books/CDs/DVDs 3 per cent
Any specialist/ethnic minority 4 per cent Parents 2 per cent
Any Radio 10 7 9 7

Any TV 9 8 10 6

Community/youth/ 8 4 3
5
religious leaders

Islamic Books/ 3
6 3 3
CDs/DVDs

Any specialist/
6 6 6 4
ethnic minority

Parents 4 2 2 2

Source: Q59 Please select the sources of information you don’t trust for each area of interest
Base: All respondents (1124)

Television was more frequently mentioned (by almost
half – 47%) as a trusted source of international news.
Newspapers were mentioned by 24 per cent for
international news and the Internet by 27 per cent.
Around one in ten mentioned each of parents (10%)
and specialist/ethnic minority media (11%) as trusted
sources of international news.
The least trusted source for information on religion
and culture (by 26%) was the Government or any
agency associated with it such as the police or
local authorities. In addition, around one in five
respondents did not trust newspapers or the
Internet for this type of information (22% and 21%
respectively).

Television was also the most trusted source for Newspapers and the Internet were also the least
entertainment (mentioned by 39%), with the Internet trusted sources for information on both domestic and
(15%) and newspapers (19%) in the second tier, as for international news, and to a lesser extent also relating
international news. to entertainment.

Figure 29 examines the sources of information that

were not trusted.

48
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

APPENDIX 1: Special interest groups and other

channels by media

Examples of findings Around three out of five young males (61%) claimed
they sometimes wore traditional clothes – broadly in
Example of findings: Media consumption of 16- to
line with all males (64%).
24-year-old males

Interest in key information

Language
Young males expressed the same level of interest in
For 42 per cent of this age group English was their
religion and culture, domestic news and international
main language (compared to 37% of males in
news as males in general (‘Very interested’: 16–24s
general). One in ten young males (9%) spoke only
– 49%, 21% and 35% respectively; all males – 54%,
English at home and 68 per cent were multilingual
26% and 41% respectively). However, young males
(compared to 9% and 61% of males in general).
were significantly more likely to express an interest
in entertainment (43%) than were males in general
Country of birth
(27%).
More than two-fifths (43%) of the 16- to 24-year-olds
were born outside the UK. This is significantly lower Most trusted sources of information
when compared to males in general (70%).
For information on religion and culture young males
were more likely to rely on parents (68%) than were
Main concerns
males in general (52%). Both groups were as likely to
The main issues for the 16–24 age group were drugs refer to community or religious leaders (16–24s – 51%;
(38%) and crime/anti-social behaviour (36%). Males all males – 51%).
in general expressed similar levels of concern about
these issues (30% and 32% respectively). For domestic news young males were more likely to
trust newspapers (51% versus 37% of all males), but
Religious behaviour both groups were as likely to trust television (29% and
34% respectively). Television figured more strongly
In most respects young males did not differ
for international news, though not significantly more
significantly in their claimed behaviour from males in
so for young males (16–24s – 54%; all males 47%). For
general. The exception related to prayer, with fewer
this topic 33 per cent of the young age group trusted
of this age group claiming to pray at home every day
newspapers (versus 27% of all males).
(43% – compared to 55% among all males).

For information on entertainment young males

Around three-quarters of this age group claimed
they observed all fasts during Ramadan/Lent (76%)
or ate only Halal food (79%). In both respects they
closely resembled males in general (76% and 82%
respectively).
Just under half the 16- to 24-year-olds (47%) claimed
to go to the mosque/church more than once a week
(compared to 53% of all males).
were more likely than males in general to trust both
television (53% versus all males 42%) and newspapers
(30% versus all males 21%).
Not trusted sources of information
The views of young males were very similar to those
of males in general on this topic. The same proportion
of both groups did not trust the Government and
49
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010
its various agencies for information on religion and
culture (16–24s – 30%; all males – 24%).
Only relating to domestic news was there any
significant variation between the two groups, with
young males more likely to mention the radio as not
trusted compared to all males (17% versus 9% of all
males).
Media consumption
Young males were more likely to watch most
programme types – but particularly football (65%
versus 55% of all males) and films (62% versus 49%).
In common with all males, they mainly watched BBC
One (56% versus 54%) and ITV 1 (46% versus 40% of
all males). Key programmes watched were EastEnders
(35% versus 23%) and Crimewatch (34% versus 36%).
Just under three out of five young males listened to
any radio station (59% versus 52% of all males). Key
stations were Kiss 100 FM (18% versus 8%) and Galaxy
(8% versus 3%), where in both cases significantly more
young males listened than males in general. Radio 1
was also listened to by eight per cent of young males
(and 10% of all males).
Three-quarters of young males (75% versus 70% of
males in general) read any newspaper. They were
significantly more likely to read Metro (36% versus
26%) and as likely to read The Sun (22% versus 21%).
Just under one in three read any magazines (30%),
this being significantly higher than the proportion
of all males doing so (20%). Auto Trader was the most
commonly mentioned title (by 10%, compared to 6%
of all males).
A far higher proportion of young males had Internet
access (84% versus 62% of all males), mainly accessed
at home/someone else’s home (96% versus 90%).
They were also more likely to access the Internet daily
(77% versus 59%). Key website types were sports
(48%), education (37%) and music (33%) and they
50
were significantly more likely to visit all of these types
compared to males in general (35%, 24% and 20%
respectively). They were more likely to have visited
(more than once) Google (83% versus 71%) and
YouTube (70% versus 48%).
The majority of males (92% 16- to 24-year-olds versus
89% males in general) consumed TV/radio in English
(with 42% only in English – compared to 34% of all
males). Looking at newspapers/magazines, the same
proportion of young males consumed them in English
(89% versus 85%), but young males were more likely
to do so only in English (58% compared to 46%).
Example of findings: Media consumption of mothers
of children aged 11–15/16+
Language
One in ten mothers of this age group spoke only
English (10%). Those with older children were more
likely to do so (15% compared to only 4% of those
with children aged 11–15). There was no significant
difference in the number speaking English as their
main language (child/ren aged11–15 – 30%; child/ren
aged 16+ – 27%).
Country of birth
Just over three-quarters of mothers of children aged
11 and over (77%) were born outside the UK. This
was true of 81 per cent of those with children aged
16+ – significantly higher than for those with slightly
younger children (66%).
Main concerns
The main concerns of mothers of both age groups
were crime and drugs. Significantly more mothers
of 11- to 15-year-olds mentioned crime/anti-social
behaviour (42% compared to 27% among those with
children aged 16+).
Religious behaviour
There were few significant differences in claimed
behaviour between mothers of the two age groups.
Just over half of each group went to the mosque
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report
or church once a month or less (52% and 55%
respectively); most prayed at home every day (82%
and 77% respectively), observed all fasts (86% versus
81%) and ate only Halal food (88% versus 84%).
They did differ, however, in adoption of traditional
clothing, with mothers of older teenagers more likely
always to do so (69% versus 54% among mothers of
11- to 15-year-olds) and mothers of younger children
more likely to do so only sometimes (43%, versus 28%
among mothers of those aged 16+).
Interest in key information
Mothers of children in both age bands were equally
interested in information about religion and culture
(mothers of 11- to 15-year-olds – 65%; of 16+-year-
olds – 69%) and also entertainment (24% and 16%
respectively). Mothers of younger teenagers were,
however, more interested in domestic news (34%
versus 22%) and international news (40% versus 28%).
Most trusted sources of information
Mothers of younger teenagers were more likely to
nominate parents as a trusted source of information
on religion and culture (57% versus 41% for those with
children aged 16+).
For domestic news they were more likely to trust
newspapers (33% versus 21% among mothers of older
teenagers). The same was also true for information on
entertainment (19% versus 8% respectively). However
television was the main trusted source for this topic
among both groups (42% and 34% respectively).
Looking at international news, mothers of 11- to
15-year-olds were more likely to state that they
trusted the Internet (30% versus 18% among mothers
of 16+ children). Here too, though, television was the
main trusted source (by 51% and 41% respectively).
Not trusted sources of information
There was relatively little variation between the two
parental groups on this measure.
Mothers in both groups were equally likely not to
trust the Government and its agencies for information
about religion and culture (11–15 years – 27%; 16+ –
19%). However, mothers of 11- to 15-year-olds were
more likely not to trust the Internet as a source of
information on this topic (20% versus 11%).
The only other significant difference between these
groups concerned entertainment, where more of the
mothers with children aged 11–15 years did not trust
the radio as a source of information (12% versus 5%).
Media consumption
There were some differences in the programme types
watched by these subgroups.
Mothers of younger teenagers were more likely to
watch soaps (48% versus 24%), films (50% versus 34%)
and the news/weather (47% versus 26%).
The main TV channel watched by both groups was
BBC One (56% and 44% respectively). Both were
equally likely to watch the Islam Channel (37% and
39% respectively). Mothers of older teenagers were
more likely to watch ARY One World (29% versus 18%),
but those with younger teenage children were more
likely to watch ITV 1 (41% versus 29%) and Channel
Five (41% versus 24%).
Key programmes watched were Crimewatch and
EastEnders, with more of the mothers of younger
children watching the latter (52% versus 32%).
Listening to radio was more common among the
mothers of younger teenagers, 49 per cent of whom
did so compared to 30 per cent among those with
children aged 16+. Key stations listened to by both
groups were BBC Asian Network and Sunrise Radio
(Greater London).
Mothers of 11- to 15-year-olds also were more likely to
read any newspapers (69% versus 50%). In particular,
they were more likely to read The Sun (13% versus
6%). Magazine readership levels were not significantly
different across these two groups (31% versus 24%). 51
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

More of the mothers of younger teenagers had
Internet access (72% versus 55%), but both groups
were equally likely to access the Internet daily (41%
versus 42%). The types of website visited were broadly
similar, though mothers of younger teenagers were
more likely to visit education-related sites (34% versus
16%).
TV and radio were more likely to be consumed in
English by mothers of younger teenagers (84% versus
66%). However, both subgroups were equally likely to
also consume these channels in languages other than
English (82% versus 87%).
The same was true for print media, with 81 per cent
of mothers of 11- to 15-year-olds using English,
compared to only 45 per cent of mothers of older
teenagers. They were also more likely to consume
printed material in English only (40% versus 21%).

Other channels by media

Figure A1.1: Q25 – TV channels watched nowadays

5% mentions 3% mentions 1% mentions 1% mentions

ALARABLYA STAR TV 118 AL MANAR
MBC VIRGIN ONE KISS BBC WORLD
LIVING THE BOX FLUSH CHANNEL
CHANNEL S CHANNEL U BRTV
IRAQ TV KANAL68
KUWAIT TV CHANNEL D
DUBAI TV ATN BANGLA
AFRICAN WILDLIFE CHANNEL I
RAYAT TV ARY DIGITAL
UNIVERSITY TV TROUBLE
AL IRAQIA FILM 4
ALFRAT SONY
AHLULBAYT TV PLAYBOY
KURDIST AN TV BANGLA TV
EURONEWS

52
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

Figure A1.2: Q28 – Radio stations listened to nowadays

5% mentions 3% mentions 1% mentions 1% mentions
RAMMADAM RADIO HEART 106.2 FM SOMALI RADIO BBC TALK
MAGIC ASR FM95
4% mentions CHOICE FM KISMAT AWPZ FM
BBC RADIO 4 LBC NEWS 1152 NEWS STATION RADlO VAZ
GALAXY RED ROSE REAL RADIO
2% mentions WWW.NONSTOP PLAY. SOMALIAN RADIO
BBC RADIO 2 COM SARABIC RADIO
CLASSIC FM JAZZ BIZIM FM
VIRGIN RADIO 809 BBC RADIO 3
5 TOWN BBC WORLDWIDE
MTV BASE MALADI MALADI
CNBC RADIO
LIVE 5
UNIVERSAL RADIO
HORNAFRIK SOMALI
HORN AFRIC

Figure A1.3: Q30 – Newspapers read nowadays

5% mentions 3% mentions 1% mentions 1% mentions
THE TIMES EASTERN EYE CITEZEN NEW DAKH
THE DAILY JANG F.T BLOT ADVERTISER
2% mentions RECORDER OLIL
4% mentions THE MUSLIM NEWS BENGALI NEWS OLAY
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THE MUSLIM WEEKLY SURMA
NEWS OF THE WORLD SUNDAY TIMES THE FREE PRESS
LONDON LITE THE OBESERVER MEN NEWS
SUNDAY MAIL JAZEERA
SUNDAY MIRROR EASTEDLIFE
HUYTERET
KURDISH
COURIER & ADVERTISER
ECONOMIST
ALQUDS
HORIYET

53
 British Muslim Media Consumption Report March 2010

Figure A1.4: Q32 – Magazines read nowadays

4% mentions 2% mentions 1% mentions 1% mentions
OK ASIAN CHOICE ECONOMIST WAQAT WEEKLY
ASIAN WOMAN GLAMOUR T3 PICK ME UP
HELLO WOMEN & HOME STUFF SCINSE
TAKE A BREAK SOAP NEW CLOSE
3% mentions TV TIMES LOCAL MAGAZINES ARCHITECTS
AUTO TRADER SPORTS MAGAZINES NEW HAM MAGAZINES JOURNAL RIBA
WHATSONTV COSMOPOLITAN AL HAYA
HEAT ZAHARATUL KHAlIJ
SPEGELESMER
READERS DIGEST
HOUSE IN TRUST
CHACHU
LOOK
SOP LIFE
TIME
SOAP MAGAZINE

Figure A1.5: Q35 – Websites visited more than once

3% mentions 2% mentions 1% mentions 1% mentions

MULTlMAP AL JAZEERA (ARABIC) TIMES ONLINE FENERBAHCE
CHANNEL 4 MUSLIM YOUTH NET ISLAMIC WEBSITE
FOREIGN OFFICE JOB PLUS
CNN IBN
GUM TREE
SOMALI LAND
COSMOPOLITAN
SHIAVOICE.CQM
SKYPE
AOL
LOOT
MPACUK.COM
HOTMAIL
IIPC.TV
MINICLlP.COM
CARS
AVON
SOMALI
54
March 2010 British Muslim Media Consumption Report

© Crown Copyright 2010

Extracts from this document may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes on condition that the source is
acknowledged.

This information is also available on the Home Office website:

http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk

First Published: March 2010

Research completed: June 2008

ISSN 2042-8251 ISBN 978-1-84987-160-0 55

End of report

ISSN 2042-8251
ISBN 978-1-84987-160-0