Channel 12 News Ratings Dispute to Be Reviewed by Rating Committee
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Channel 12's main news broadcast recorded a 9.8% rating on Thursday, but the channel released a higher figure of 10.6% by splitting the broadcast into two segments. Competitors complained to the Rating Committee, which will discuss the unusual practice next month. The committee cannot impose sanctions but has clarified the conduct is improper. Keshet 12 declined to comment.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Channel 12's main news broadcast rating was disputed, with figures of 9.8% and 10.6% reported.
- The channel split its broadcast into two segments to highlight a higher initial rating.
- Competitors complained to the Rating Committee about the artificial division of viewership data.
- The Rating Committee's research committee will discuss the issue within the next month.
- Keshet 12, the channel operator, declined to comment on the controversy.
The central news broadcast of Israel's Channel 12 reportedly saw a significant drop in viewership ratings on a recent Thursday, reaching 9.8%. However, the following morning, Keshet 12, the channel's operator, released a higher figure of 10.6%. An investigation revealed that the broadcast was unusually split into two separate viewing segments, with the first part achieving 10.6% and the second, later part falling to 9.1%. This artificial division allowed Keshet to highlight only the stronger segment in its press releases, ignoring the decline.
The move has sparked anger among competing channels, some of whom have complained to the Rating Committee. According to sources familiar with the matter, such practices undermine the credibility of the entire market regarding the committee's data and daily company reports. The split was reportedly done solely by Keshet without approval.
Consequently, the issue is expected to be discussed by the Rating Committee's research committee, comprising research managers from all broadcasting bodies, within the next month. Standard industry practice permits splitting a broadcast only in exceptional cases of unfolding news events that extend the program, and even then, it requires broad coordination or approval. On the day in question, the broadcast was regular and no other channel split its programming.
While the committee lacks the authority to impose sanctions on a broadcaster's public relations practices, an email has reportedly been sent clarifying that this conduct is improper. Keshet 12 chose not to comment on the matter. In other news, Barakat company marked the completion of the State Square Towers project, financed with approximately 2.05 billion shekels. Elite, from Strauss, is bringing back 16 past products due to consumer demand, including Nesholada and Pas-Tzman. Menora Mivtachim Insurance held its annual workers' committee conference. New appointments include David Ben Tolila as Chairman of the Information Technology Association of Israel, Yaniv Videvsky as CFO of Gad Dairy, and Shachar Machat joining Airangi Tech as a director.
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