Second Authority for Television and Radio

Second Authority for Television and Radio
Name	Second Authority for Television and Radio
Formed	1990
Preceding1	Israel Broadcasting Authority
Jurisdiction	State of Israel
Headquarters	Jerusalem
Chief1 position	Chairman

Second Authority for Television and Radio is an Israeli statutory body established to regulate commercial broadcasting and to issue licenses for television and radio services. It operates within a legal framework shaped by the Knesset and interacts with media entities such as Keshet Media Group, Reshet, Channel 10, Kan‬ Broadcast Corporation, and commercial radio stations. The authority's remit touches on cultural policy, advertising standards, and public broadcasting debates involving actors such as Mossad, Israel Defense Forces, Ministry of Communications (Israel), and civil-society groups.

History

The institution was created following legislative reform in the late 1980s and early 1990s influenced by debates in the Knesset and policy proposals from the Ministry of Communications (Israel), responding to pressures from broadcasters like Channel 2 (Israel), Channel 10 (Israel), and stakeholders including Avraham Burg and Binyamin Netanyahu-era officials. The legal foundation drew on comparative models from the Federal Communications Commission, Ofcom, and regulatory precedents in the European Broadcasting Union, with constitutional dialogues referencing rulings by the Supreme Court of Israel. Early years involved negotiations with media entrepreneurs such as Arnon Milchan, Rami Ungar, and international partners from NBCUniversal, RTL Group, and ViacomCBS. During the 2000s the authority adapted to digital transitions influenced by technologies from Broadcom, Qualcomm, Apple Inc., and platforms like YouTube, Netflix (service), and Amazon Prime Video, while contending with content controversies tied to figures including Amos Oz, A.B. Yehoshua, and investigative journalism by outlets like Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, and Yedioth Ahronoth.

Organization and Governance

The authority's governance structure includes a board appointed through processes involving the Knesset committees, the Ministry of Communications (Israel), and occasionally the Prime Minister of Israel's office, paralleling appointment practices seen at regulatory bodies such as the Federal Communications Commission, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, and Australian Communications and Media Authority. Executive management has engaged with legal counsel from firms linked to personalities like Tal Schneider and consultants formerly of McKinsey & Company, Ernst & Young, and PwC. Internal departments mirror divisions in institutions like BBC, Deutsche Welle, and France Télévisions, covering licensing, legal affairs, technical standards, and public complaints. The authority interacts with labor organizations including Histadrut and with unions representing journalists from Icelandic Union of Journalists models, adapting corporate governance principles from OECD recommendations.

Functions and Responsibilities

Mandated tasks include issuing broadcasting licenses, setting content quotas for Hebrew and minority-language programming relevant to communities such as Arab citizens of Israel, Druze, and Bedouin, establishing advertising limits akin to rules in United Kingdom broadcasting law and media codes used by Council of Europe, and promoting local production comparable to initiatives by SAG-AFTRA and European Film Academy. The authority supervises compliance with standards seen in decisions by the European Court of Human Rights and addresses accessibility obligations comparable to Americans with Disabilities Act-driven policies in international broadcasting. It engages in spectrum coordination with organizations like the International Telecommunication Union and national bodies such as the Ministry of Communications (Israel) and collaborates on emergency broadcasting protocols with Israel Defense Forces and civil-defense agencies.

Licensing and Regulation

The licensing regime governs terrestrial television incumbents, subscription services, and commercial radio, drawing on auction and tender mechanisms resembling those used by Ofcom, FCC, ANATEL, and ACMA. License conditions stipulate content obligations, technical parameters, and financial guarantees, reflecting legal precedents set by the Supreme Court of Israel and statutory guidance from the Knesset. The authority has overseen transitions including the shift from analogue to digital terrestrial television, interacting with manufacturers and vendors like Sony, Samsung, LG Electronics, and infrastructure providers such as Bezeq and Hot (Israel). Licensing decisions often involve media conglomerates including Keshet Media Group, Reshet, Armoza Formats, and international format holders like Endemol Shine Group.

Enforcement and Compliance

Enforcement tools include fines, license suspensions, content warnings, and referral to judicial review via the Supreme Court of Israel. The authority operates a complaints mechanism used by citizens, NGOs such as B'Tselem and Adalah, and industry groups including Israeli Cable and Satellite Association. Compliance investigations have addressed issues ranging from political advertising rules relevant to election law oversight by the Central Elections Committee (Israel) to child protection standards echoed in international frameworks from UNICEF. Technical compliance is monitored using measurement equipment from vendors such as Tektronix and Rohde & Schwarz and coordinated with the International Telecommunication Union.

Funding and Budget

Funding sources include license fees, regulatory charges, and allocations determined through budgeting processes linked to the Ministry of Finance (Israel), with fiscal oversight comparable to standards set by the State Comptroller of Israel. The authority's budget management aligns with practices from institutions like BBC Trust (historical), Public Broadcasters Association, and financial audits by firms such as KPMG and Deloitte. Commercial revenues influenced by advertising markets tracked by analytics firms including Nielsen (company) affect resource allocation, while periodic restructuring has been debated in parliamentary hearings led by members of the Finance Committee (Knesset).

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques have arisen over perceived political influence by leading politicians including Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Olmert, alleged favoritism towards conglomerates such as OMG (media group) and editorial independence disputes involving journalists from Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post. Controversies include legal challenges brought before the Supreme Court of Israel, public protests by cultural figures like Yehoram Gaon and media producers including Muli Segev, and debates over minority-language representation involving Arab League-affiliated groups. International organizations including Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch have commented on press freedom issues connected to the regulatory environment overseen by the authority.

Category:Broadcasting in Israel Category:Regulatory agencies