Knesset Passes Major Reform of Israel’s Broadcast-Media Regulation

Israel’s parliament approved the Communications (Broadcasting) Law, 5786-2026 on Thursday, passing it 53-48 in second and third readings. The legislation replaces the existing regulatory framework with a model that expands governmental supervision of television and radio. Key provisions eliminate long-standing requirements for minimum journalistic standards, investment in original Israeli productions, and limits on cross-ownership, while granting the state greater authority over audience-measurement methods and the allocation of state advertising.

The Media Line

At the heart of the reform is the creation of the Broadcast Communications Authority, an independent statutory regulator slated to consolidate and eventually replace Israel’s current broadcast oversight bodies. The authority will be guided by a nine-member Broadcast Communications Regulatory Council, whose members are to be nominated by a committee chaired by the director-general of the Communications Ministry. The authority’s annual budget is set at 25 million shekels, funded through deductions from the public broadcaster’s budget.

The Media Line

The law also introduces a last-minute amendment that benefits the pro-government Channel 14 broadcaster, an exemption estimated at approximately NIS 40 million ($13.8 million) each year. By centralizing audience-measurement and advertising decisions, the government will wield increased influence over revenue distribution among commercial channels.

The Media Line

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took part in the Knesset debate on the legislation but abstained from the final vote. Netanyahu is currently on trial in separate cases concerning his dealings with the media, a circumstance noted in the parliamentary record. The narrow vote margin and the amendment favoring Channel 14 have drawn attention to the potential for political leverage through the new regulatory structure.

The Media Line