Last-Minute Break for i24 in Communications Bill

In the final stretch of the debates on the broadcasting bill, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi is arranging a generous benefit for the government-supporting i24 channel, which would allow it to broadcast on HOT and Yes cable and satellite platforms as well. In recent days, the coalition has been completing its aggressive drive to pass the broadcasting bill, which is intended to eliminate free media in Israel. The most drastic move, the establishment of a new Broadcasting Authority with broad powers to shut down channels, was split off from the bill, but the current text still includes changes such as canceling cross-ownership bans, ending the structural separation requirement between Keshet and Reshet news companies and the channel owners, and granting financial benefits worth tens of millions of shekels to the government-supporting channels 14 and i24.

Late last night, the communications minister submitted a series of amendments to the bill, just hours before today’s, Thursday’s, debate in the special Knesset committee established to complete the legislation. One of these amendments includes a significant benefit for i24, which is identified with support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Under current law, the channel is barred from carrying its broadcasts on regulated multi-channel television platforms, namely HOT cable and Yes satellite. This is because of a provision in the current law that prohibits a licensee of an international news channel from broadcasting news in Hebrew on cable and satellite. As a result, i24’s Hebrew-language broadcasts are available only on unregulated platforms, such as Cellcom TV and Partner TV, and on Yes broadcasts based on internet infrastructure.

Although the number of cable and satellite subscribers has been steadily declining, in Yes most subscribers are on internet infrastructure, this is still a large number of viewers who are not exposed to i24 in Hebrew. Now, according to the amendment that the Communications Ministry wants to incorporate into the bill, this restriction will be removed, and a licensee of an international news channel will be able to broadcast news in Hebrew to the Israeli public on cable and satellite as well. Although the wording of the amendment does not explicitly name i24 as the beneficiary, the explanatory notes to the amendment make this clear: "The section removes the prohibition on i24 broadcasting on cable and satellite infrastructure."

This benefit joins a range of advantages that i24 owner Patrick Drahi would receive if the bill is approved in its second and third readings. The most prominent are exemption from an obligation, estimated at tens of millions of shekels, to provide content to television providers without compensation, a benefit also enjoyed by the Bibist Channel 14, and the cancellation of cross-ownership restrictions. This benefit could allow Drahi to buy another television channel, Drahi tried to acquire Reshet 13, but the attempt failed because of cross-ownership prohibitions. Since the deal by the high-tech businessmen to acquire the channel has not yet been approved by the regulator, lifting the restriction could reopen the door to a Drahi deal, or to another major media asset.

Voting in the committee is expected to begin next Sunday. After the bill is approved by the committee, it will be submitted for approval in its second and third readings in the Knesset plenum.