Israeli Knesset Passes Major Broadcasting Reform Establishing New Regulatory Authority

The Israeli Knesset approved the Communications (Broadcasting) Law, 2026, in its second and third readings on Thursday evening, marking a key initiative by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi. The law passed with 53 votes in favor and 48 against. Central to the reform is the creation of an independent statutory Broadcasting Authority that will consolidate existing regulatory bodies overseeing broadcasting. The authority’s annual budget is set at 25 million shekels, deducted from the public broadcasting corporation’s budget.

Alongside the authority, a Broadcasting Regulation Council will be established, comprising nine members responsible for setting the authority’s policies. Initially, enforcement powers will remain with current bodies in some areas until further legislative steps are completed. The reform also introduces new regulations for content providers: large suppliers meeting criteria such as revenues over 40 million shekels, more than 100,000 paying subscribers, or significant investments by controlling shareholders must register in a dedicated registry and comply with new rules.

A uniform framework for Israeli original productions mandates registered content providers to invest at least 6.5% of their revenues annually in local production or financing, with a portion allocated to documentary programs. This obligation will be phased in over five years. The law also addresses sports broadcasting, prohibiting rights holders from forcing customers to buy expensive full channel packages and requiring them to offer content fairly to competitors. Criteria were set for public-interest sports events to be broadcast free of additional charges.

Minister Karhi praised the law’s passage, stating it "brings freedom to the public, removes propaganda chains from Israeli citizens’ consciousness, and allows them to choose whom to watch." He added that the reform breaks monopolies, lowers entry barriers, and promotes Israeli creativity. The law is expected to take effect 24 months after publication, except for certain provisions with specific activation dates outlined in the legislation.