Cable and satellite regulator blocks paid World Cup broadcasts on Hot and Yes

Israel’s Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council said on Wednesday that Hot and Yes will not be allowed to place World Cup matches behind a paywall. Council chair Yulia Shamalov Berkovich said, “The World Cup matches were purchased by the corporation with public money, and the public must have access to all the games for free.”

The two providers had asked for permission to air 34 matches from the group stage and the round of 16 on Charlton’s premium sports channels over their cable and satellite infrastructure. The request was tied to an agreement between the Kan public broadcaster, which holds the World Cup rights, and Charlton. Under that deal, the matches would not be shown live on a free-to-air channel such as Channel 11 or Channel 33, although Kan would carry them on its apps.

Hot and Yes apparently hoped the council would make an exception because the games were from the early stages and would also be available through Kan’s applications. The council refused, saying that if the matches are shown on Charlton and are not simultaneously available on Kan’s channels, they must be available free of charge to Hot cable subscribers and Yes satellite subscribers.

Shamalov Berkovich said this has been the council’s policy for years and that it found no reason to depart from it. The decision does not apply to internet-based TV providers such as Cellcom and Partner, or to Hot Next and Yes+ internet subscribers, who are not regulated by the council. Kan declined to comment, saying only, “We will not comment.”