Zvika Hadar and Maor Zaguri tapped to lead entertainment and original productions at new Channel 16

Channel 16, a new Israeli TV channel due to launch soon, has added more familiar names from local entertainment. After earlier reports that Yaakov Eilon would anchor the main news bulletin, the channel has now named Zvika Hadar as its head of entertainment and Maor Zaguri as head of original productions.

Hadar, a veteran host and actor who has long been a familiar face on Israeli television, previously hosted The Main Game on Sport 5 and fronted shows such as Kokhav Nolad and Born to Dance. He is expected to lead new projects as the channel says it aims to change the rules of Israeli television.

Zaguri, the creator and director behind the hit series Zaguri Empire, is joining Channel 16 after recently wrapping filming on the show’s third season. He is set to oversee the creation of new original content for the channel. In a quote repeated in connection with the move, Zaguri said, “All the people I love are there.”

The appointments come during an intense buildout phase for Channel 16, which is scheduled to go on air this coming Sunday, 28 June 2026, with a 21-day soft launch. The channel is owned by Itzik Hadad of the Yachad Habonim group and says it will use an interactive model in which the public can influence content in real time. It will broadcast on Cellcom TV, a dedicated microsite, and free smart apps. Its founders also plan to list the channel on the stock exchange in the future so the public can buy shares. The studios were built in Ramat Aviv on the former site of the Education TV network, and more details on Hadar and Zaguri’s specific projects are expected later.