Four Candidates Vie for Israeli Public Broadcasting Council Chair

Four prominent figures have reached the final interview stage for the position of chairperson of the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation's (Kan) Council. The candidates include Eldad Koblentz, the corporation's former CEO who was dismissed in 2022 following an investigation into workplace relations, potentially returning to the organization in a supervisory role. Other contenders are Professor Menachem Ben-Sasson, a current board member and former president of the Hebrew University; Moti Shklar, who previously led the Israel Broadcasting Authority and the Second Television and Radio Authority; and Yona Wiesenthal, another board member with prior experience as Director-General of the Israel Broadcasting Authority and Content VP at yes.

The selection process occurs amid managerial challenges at Kan, including a shortage of board members necessary for the council's proper functioning, and ongoing legal disputes with Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi. The chairperson's role is crucial as the council oversees the public broadcaster's operations, encompassing Kan 11 television, radio stations, and digital activities. The chosen individual's leadership could significantly influence the corporation's management and its institutional and operational independence.

Koblentz's candidacy is particularly noteworthy. If selected, he would transition from leading the corporation's daily operations to heading the body that supervises its management, including the current CEO, Golan Yochpaz. This potential shift from CEO to Council Chair could create interesting dynamics within the organization, given Koblentz's history with Kan.

Other candidates offer different potential directions for the corporation. Ben-Sasson and Wiesenthal, both current board members, might represent continuity. Shklar's extensive experience in public and regulatory broadcasting, along with his past chairmanship of Channel 20 (predecessor to Channel 14), positions him as a candidate familiar with both public broadcasting and media outlets with a conservative leaning.

The identity of the next chairperson is significant not only for management but also for the corporation's relationship with the political echelon, especially given the ongoing controversies surrounding Kan and its interactions with the government. The final decision on who will lead the council during this sensitive period for Israeli public broadcasting is now pending.