Kan 11 Breaks Israeli TV Norms by Airing Trivia Show at Prime News Hour
Kan 11 recently made a notably unconventional programming decision by scheduling a trivia game show, "HaKavoret," at 7 p.m., a time traditionally dominated by continuous news coverage on Israeli television. Hosted by Shalmor Struzman, the show features contestants answering general knowledge questions without the usual reality TV elements like cooking or personal stories. The innovation lies not in the show's format, which is rather old-fashioned, but in its placement during the early evening slot typically reserved for news.
Israeli TV channels usually flood this hour with nonstop news and commentary, often making it difficult for viewers to discern when the news actually begins. Kan 11’s choice to air a trivia show instead challenges the prevailing assumption that all channels must cover the same news topics repeatedly throughout the evening. This move offers viewers a break from the relentless news cycle, providing a moment of light entertainment rather than continuous current affairs discussion.
The article suggests that this programming shift reflects a recognition of the modern Israeli viewer’s information overload, as people already receive news through multiple digital platforms before turning on the TV. "HaKavoret" harkens back to a simpler era of television when general knowledge was considered entertaining, predating Google, Wikipedia, and AI tools. Kan 11’s public broadcasting status allows it the freedom to experiment without the pressure of competing for ratings in the same way commercial channels do.
If successful, this experiment could open a small crack in the convention that all channels must offer similar content at the same time. If it fails, it will still underscore the tension between traditional TV formats and the evolving media consumption habits of Israeli audiences. Ultimately, Kan 11’s decision poses a subtle but radical question to viewers: would you rather engage with essential news or enjoy trivia with no practical importance but pure entertainment value?
