Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation
Israel's national public broadcaster, operating television, radio, digital, podcast and Arabic-language services under the Kan and Makan brands.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC) is Israel's national public broadcaster. Its principal Hebrew consumer brand is Kan, meaning “Here,” while its Arabic-language services use the Makan brand, meaning “A place.” The corporation supplies television, radio, online video, news, cultural programming, children's and educational content, podcasts and other digital services to audiences in Israel and, through internet distribution, abroad. The IPBC was created by legislation passed by the Knesset in July 2014 and began operations in 2015 as the successor to the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA). The replacement followed years of criticism of the IBA's organizational structure, high employment and salary costs, inflexible labor arrangements and declining operational performance. The reform also abolished the television fee and established a new legal framework intended to provide more independent, diverse and technologically modern public media. Although the corporation was initially expected to launch earlier, political and administrative disputes repeatedly delayed the transition. The IPBC ultimately began television and radio broadcasting on 15 May 2017, taking over the public-broadcasting role from the IBA. Its statutory remit includes providing reliable and impartial news; reflecting the diversity of Israeli society; supporting Israeli culture, original production and music; expanding education and public knowledge; serving children and young people; and broadcasting in Hebrew, Arabic and other languages used in Israel. Kan 11 is the principal Hebrew television channel and carries news, current affairs, culture, entertainment and factual programming. Makan 33 serves Arabic-speaking audiences with Arabic news and cultural programming. Kan Educational replaced the former Israeli Educational Television service on channel 23 in August 2018. The corporation distributes television through terrestrial digital transmission, satellite, cable, internet television providers and online streaming. It has also used ultra-high-definition transmission for selected events, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The radio portfolio comprises stations inherited from the IBA and distributed through FM, digital terrestrial television, satellite, streaming and on-demand services. IPBC digital operations include its website, mobile applications, online radio channels, video-on-demand programming, social-media content and podcasts. Its podcast network is known as Kan Hesketim, formerly Kan Od. The Kan Box video-on-demand service aggregates programming from Kan and Makan television and radio services as well as selected material produced for the former IBA. The corporation has an important international role through the European Broadcasting Union. It initially received an agreement allowing participation in EBU events while its membership application was pending, and its membership was unanimously approved in December 2018. This enabled Israel's public broadcaster to participate in Eurovision and other EBU activities. The IPBC remains a state-established public media organization whose independence, funding and institutional structure have periodically been subjects of political debate.
History
The IPBC emerged from a restructuring of Israeli public broadcasting. The predecessor Israel Broadcasting Authority had suffered from accumulated organizational and financial problems, including a large workforce, costly salary arrangements, rigid labor agreements and declining effectiveness. A 2013 review commissioned by Communications Minister Gilad Erdan was followed by the Landes Committee, whose recommendations supported replacing the existing authority and ending the television fee. The Knesset began detailed work on a public-broadcasting bill in June 2014. The Public Broadcasting Law passed on 29 July 2014 and provided for the closure of the IBA and the creation of a new corporation. The law required the new broadcaster to provide television, radio and internet content; operate independently; represent the diversity of Israeli society; offer professional and balanced news; serve children and young people; and broadcast in Hebrew, Arabic and other languages used by the public. It also identified education, knowledge, Israeli culture, original production, music and broadcasting innovation as core objectives. The corporation started organizational operations in September 2014 and appointed Eldad Koblenz to lead its establishment in March 2015. Recruitment proceeded during 2016, with hundreds of managers, financial specialists and technology workers joining the organization. The transition was politically contentious. Prime Minister and Communications Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Histadrut chairman Avi Nissenkorn negotiated several postponements to the IBA's closure and the IPBC's launch. A proposed separation of the news division from the main corporation generated further political and legal conflict, and the High Court of Justice issued a temporary injunction in May 2017. The IPBC finally began radio and television operations on 15 May 2017. Its main Hebrew television service became Kan 11, while Makan 33 provided Arabic-language programming. The corporation also developed educational television, digital news, online radio, podcasts and streaming services. Its radio portfolio included stations transferred from the IBA, alongside genre-focused web-radio channels and on-demand audio. The broadcaster's international position was initially complicated by the timing of its launch and its relationship with the European Broadcasting Union. Because the launch was delayed, the IBA handled Israel's 2017 Eurovision broadcast. The IPBC then reached an interim arrangement permitting participation in EBU events. After concerns that a separate news entity could conflict with EBU rules requiring member broadcasters to provide both news and entertainment, Israel's government indicated that it would preserve compliance. The EBU approved IPBC membership unanimously in December 2018. The corporation subsequently continued to expand its television, radio and digital presence under the Kan umbrella.
- 2022
Kan Box video-on-demand service introduced
[1]The corporation released Kan Box as a video-on-demand service aggregating Kan and Makan programming and selected IBA material.
- 2018
Kan Educational replaces former educational television channel
[1]The corporation introduced Kan Educational on channel 23, replacing Israeli Educational Television.
- 2018
EBU membership approved
[1]The European Broadcasting Union General Assembly unanimously approved the IPBC's membership application.
- 2017
Broadcasting launch
[1]IPBC television and radio operations officially began on 15 May.
- 2015
Corporation established and leadership appointed
[1]The IPBC was established as the successor public broadcaster, with Eldad Koblenz appointed to lead its development.
- 2014
Public Broadcasting Law passed
[1]The Knesset passed legislation establishing the new corporation and providing for the closure of the Israel Broadcasting Authority.
Products and positioning
Independent-minded public broadcasting serving Israel's diverse population through news, culture, education, entertainment and multilingual digital distribution.
Hebrew television channel · 2017
Kan 11
The IPBC's principal Hebrew television channel. It carries national and international news, current affairs, cultural programming, factual shows, entertainment and original Israeli productions. Kan 11 replaced the IBA's former Channel 1 as the main general-interest public television service.
Arabic-language television channel · 2017
Makan 33
The corporation's Arabic-language television service, providing news, culture and other programming for Arabic-speaking audiences in Israel. It continued the public-service role previously associated with the IBA's Channel 33 while operating under the Makan brand.
Children's and educational television · 2018
Kan Educational
A youth-oriented public television service introduced on channel 23 in August 2018. It replaced Israeli Educational Television and focuses on educational, children's and young-audience content.
Radio network · 2017
Kan Radio
A group of public radio stations distributed through regional FM frequencies, digital terrestrial television, satellite, streaming and on-demand platforms. The portfolio includes general, news, cultural, music and language services inherited or developed from the former IBA radio system.
Podcast network
Kan Hesketim
The IPBC's podcast network, formerly known as Kan Od. It extends the broadcaster's journalism, culture, documentary and audio programming beyond scheduled radio through digital on-demand distribution.
Video-on-demand service · 2022
Kan Box
An online video-on-demand platform offering programming associated with Kan and Makan television and radio services, together with selected productions made for the former IBA.
Brand decisions
2018
Preserve an integrated news and entertainment broadcaster for EBU membershipStrategyBackground
The EBU raised concerns that a proposed separation of the news division could conflict with membership rules requiring public broadcasters to provide both news and entertainment.
Action taken
The Israeli government indicated that it would comply with EBU requirements while the issue was reviewed.
Aftermath
The EBU unanimously approved IPBC membership in December 2018.
2017
Launch television and radio operations under KanProduct launchBackground
Several political and administrative disputes delayed the planned transition from the IBA.
Action taken
The IPBC launched its national television and radio services on 15 May 2017, with Kan as its principal Hebrew brand.
Aftermath
Kan 11, Makan 33, radio services and digital platforms became the core of Israel's new public-broadcasting system.
2014
Replace the Israel Broadcasting Authority with a new public broadcasterStrategyBackground
Reviews identified structural, staffing, labor and cost problems in the IBA and recommended a new legal and organizational model.
Action taken
The Knesset passed the Public Broadcasting Law, establishing the IPBC, ending the television fee and providing for the IBA's closure.
Aftermath
The new corporation was built during a prolonged transition and began broadcasting in May 2017.
Sources2 sources
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