Israeli Knesset Advances Bill Allowing Regional Radio Stations Nationwide Broadcasts

The Israeli Knesset approved in a preliminary vote a bill permitting commercial regional radio stations to broadcast without geographic restrictions across the entire country. Currently, 17 private regional and sectoral radio stations operate under the Second Authority for Television and Radio, including Radio 103 owned by Eli Azur, Radio Radius owned by David Ben-Bassat, Radio Tel Aviv 102 owned by Tzvika Shalom, and Kol Chai Radio serving the Haredi sector owned by businessman Yitzhak Mirshvili through Channel 14's parent company.

The proposed legislation would allow commercial FM radio broadcasts without geographic limits, differing from the current system where broadcasts are either national (such as those by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation and Galei Tzahal) or regional. The Second Authority's council would issue licenses through a public tender process, valid for 15 years with a possible five-year extension.

The bill, sponsored by Knesset members Eli Dellal (Likud), Ahmad Tibi (Ta'al), and others, passed with 47 votes in favor and 29 against. It will return to the Knesset's Economic Committee for further discussion. The bill aims to expand broadcasting rights and benefit regional radio franchisees by broadening their permitted coverage area nationwide.