Channel 12 (Keshet)

Channel 12 (Keshet)
Name	Channel 12 (Keshet)
Country	Israel
Owner	Keshet Media Group
Launched	2017
Headquarters	Tel Aviv
Language	Hebrew
Picture format	1080i HDTV

Channel 12 (Keshet) is an Israeli commercial television channel operated by Keshet Media Group after the 2017 split of the former Channel 2 concession. The channel broadcasts a mix of entertainment, drama, news, and reality formats and distributes formats internationally, collaborating with global companies and festivals. It competes with domestic broadcasters and international streaming platforms across the Israeli and diaspora markets.

Overview

Channel 12 is owned by Keshet Media Group, with headquarters in Tel Aviv and studio facilities linked to production centers used by Reshet, KAN 11, and private studios. Its schedule features prime-time drama, franchise adaptations, and original formats that have been licensed to companies such as BBC, Netflix, Hulu, and HBO. The channel operates within Israeli broadcasting regulation frameworks associated with bodies like the Second Authority for Television and Radio and interacts with institutions such as the Knesset for policy debates. Key corporate partners have included Endemol Shine Group, Fremantle, and All3Media.

History

The channel emerged from the 2017 restructuring of Israel's commercial broadcasting after the end of the shared Channel 2 concession, when Keshet and Reshet became independent broadcasters. Keshet launched the new commercial channel inheriting a legacy of programs and talent developed under the earlier arrangement with producers and presenters who had worked with entities like Galileo, Keshet Studios, and leading Israeli production houses. Early years saw strategic hires from networks such as Channel 10 and collaboration with veteran presenters from Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, and Yedioth Ahronoth. The channel's internationalization strategy accelerated through festivals and markets including the Cannes Film Festival, MIPCOM, and Series Mania.

Programming

Program types include scripted drama, comedy, reality, game shows, and cultural specials. Notable original drama creators and showrunners have ties to writers and directors who worked on productions associated with Sundance Film Festival, Emmy Awards contenders, and Israeli series that gained international remakes like adaptations involving Sharon Levy, Sarit Michaeli, and teams with credits alongside Ron Leshem and Gideon Raff. International formats adapted by the channel have counterparts such as The Voice, Survivor, and Big Brother—titles stemming from collaborations with Talpa Media and Banijay. The comedy slate often features performers known from Habima Theatre, Beit Lessin Theater, and stand-up acts exported to comedy festivals in Edinburgh and Montreal.

News and Current Affairs

The channel's news division competes with newsrooms at KAN 11, Reshet 13, and cable services, employing anchors and producers drawn from outlets like Channel 10, Channel 2, and major Israeli newspapers such as Maariv and Israel Hayom. Coverage spans parliamentary sessions in the Knesset, security briefings involving the Israel Defense Forces, diplomatic reporting on relations with United States, European Union, and neighboring states including Egypt and Jordan, and cultural reporting tied to institutions like the Israel Museum and Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Investigative teams have cooperated with NGOs and academic researchers from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University.

Production and Technology

Keshet invested in studio upgrades, high-definition production pipelines, and post-production partnerships with companies headquartered in Los Angeles, London, and Berlin. Technical collaborations have involved suppliers such as Sony, Grass Valley, and cloud vendors allied with broadcasters at markets like NAB Show and IBC. The channel has developed in-house production capabilities at facilities near Ramat Gan and uses outside units for location shoots across Israeli sites including Jerusalem, Haifa, and the Negev. Distribution infrastructure encompasses terrestrial transmitters, satellite distribution through regional providers, and digital platforms interoperable with apps used by diaspora viewers in North America, Europe, and Australia.

Audience and Reception

Ratings competition with Reshet 13 and public broadcaster KAN 11 is measured by surveys from audience research firms and advertising agencies tied to markets in Tel Aviv Stock Exchange listings and media buys. Programs have received awards at festivals such as Monte-Carlo Television Festival and nominations for International Emmy Awards, influencing export deals with distributors like Kew Media Group and Zodiak Media. Critical reception draws commentary from cultural critics writing for Haaretz, The Marker, and international trade press including Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

Controversies and Legal Issues

The channel's operations have intersected with legal and regulatory disputes involving licensing oversight by the Second Authority for Television and Radio and court proceedings at the Supreme Court of Israel. Content controversies have prompted debates in the Knesset and coverage by watchdogs such as international press freedom organizations and local ombudsmen. Commercial disputes have involved production contracts, intellectual property claims with international format owners like Endemol, and labor negotiations with unions representing technical crews and on-screen talent associated with guilds and associations.

Category:Television channels in Israel