Type | Broadcast radio and television |
---|---|
Country | Israel |
Availability | National; international |
Owner | Government of Israel |
Launch date
|
1948 1968 (television) |
(radio)
Former names
|
Israel Broadcasting Service (1951–1965) |
Official website
|
www.iba.org.il |
Replaced by | Israeli Broadcasting Corporation |
Israel Broadcasting Authority (often referred to as the IBA; Hebrew: רָשׁוּת השׁידוּר, Rashùt Ha-Shidúr literally: The Broadcast Authority) is Israel's state broadcasting network. It grew out of the radio station Kol Yisrael (Voice of Israel, not to be confused with the private internet radio station of this same name which operated between 2014-2015), which made its first broadcast as an independent station on March 14, 1948 . The name of the organisation operating Kol Yisrael was changed to Israel Broadcasting Service in 1951. The law creating the Israel Broadcasting Authority was passed by the Knesset on 6 June 1965. Television broadcasts commenced on 2 May 1968, with color television following on 23 February 1983, although occasional color transmissions were made earlier, such as the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 and the visit of the Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1977. IBA is supposed to be replaced by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation on October 1, 2016, however Benjamin Netanyahu has recently stated that the launch and replacement is to be postponed to the beginning of 2018, for which he got criticism from journalists and politicians across Israel. However, after some political pressure it may be delayed only for six months to April 30, 2017.
It operates two television channels and eight radio stations. IBA's television stations are officially free of advertising, but programs are often "sponsored" by commercial entities. Full advertising on the radio is allowed, however.