Israeli Communications Minister Plans to Remove Free Broadcast App Amid Ultra-Orthodox Pressure

Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi is seeking to remove the government-funded free broadcast app from the Broadcasting Law following pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties. The app was originally introduced nearly two years ago as a key public benefit, intended to reduce reliance on expensive cable and satellite packages and allow soldiers to watch sports games for free on mobile devices. Karhi now aims to eliminate this provision due to concerns raised by ultra-Orthodox factions about Sabbath violations and inappropriate content on a publicly funded platform.

The ultra-Orthodox parties demanded the app's removal to prevent broadcasts that conflict with their religious standards, prompting Karhi to shift his stance despite earlier promises that the app would benefit the public and soldiers. With the app's removal, the law will instead focus on establishing a new regulator with authority over media rating measurements and will cancel structural separations between media owners and news companies, potentially increasing political influence over newsrooms.

The reform will also lift existing restrictions on cross-ownership and grant significant advantages to channels 14 and 15. This move is widely seen as a concession by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to maintain the right-wing and ultra-Orthodox coalition ahead of upcoming elections, even at the cost of public benefits initially promised by the law.