Makan 33
An Israeli free-to-air Arabic-language public television channel operated by Kan for the country's Arab-speaking audience.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Makan 33 is an Israeli free-to-air television channel that broadcasts primarily in Arabic and is intended to serve Israel's Arab-speaking community. It operates within the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation, commonly branded as Kan, and forms part of the public broadcaster's multilingual service structure. The channel's identity is distinct from the general Hebrew-language television services: its programming is designed around Arabic-language news, culture, entertainment, satire, sport, and other content relevant to viewers in Israel's Arab community. The service began broadcasting on May 15, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. Its launch followed the restructuring of Israel's public broadcasting system and replaced the earlier Channel 33 service. Although Makan 33 inherited part of the predecessor channel's public-service role, it was introduced as a channel within the newer Kan organization and received a separate Arabic-oriented identity. A significant early programming development came in 2018, when Kan announced that Makan 33 would carry the FIFA World Cup hosted in Russia. This marked the first time the new channel broadcast the tournament in Arabic. The predecessor Channel 33 had considered carrying the 2010 World Cup in Arabic, but that plan was abandoned after threats reportedly connected with Al-Jazeera Sports. During the 2018 tournament, Makan 33 upgraded to high-definition transmission on the DVB-T2 multiplex operated by Israel's digital terrestrial television platform, Idan+. Following the end of the tournament, the channel introduced a revised schedule. Contemporary reporting described the schedule as involving an expenditure of NIS 20 million, although the available reference material does not establish the precise accounting period or whether the figure represented the entire channel budget. Makan 33 has also used digital distribution alongside conventional broadcasting. In July 2019, its YouTube channel was removed after receiving three content strikes. Kan subsequently resolved the matter, allowing the channel's online presence to be restored or otherwise addressed by the corporation. The incident illustrated the operational importance of platform distribution for a public broadcaster whose audience uses both television and internet video. The channel's programming has occasionally generated political controversy. In May 2020, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement criticized an episode or segment of the satirical program Al-Balad Al-Bahir that featured actors from the Israeli television series Fauda. The organization characterized the segment as Israeli propaganda and argued that it supported what it described as a Zionist project directed against Palestinians. In January 2022, Makan 33 aired Dubai, Dubai, a parody song concerning the normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The broadcast drew negative reactions from some Arab audiences and commentators in other Arab countries. Makan 33's role is therefore both cultural and institutional. It provides Arabic-language public media from an Israeli broadcaster while operating within a politically sensitive environment involving questions of minority representation, Israeli-Arab identity, Palestinian politics, regional relations, and the editorial responsibilities of public broadcasting. Its publicly documented history remains relatively short, but the channel's World Cup rights, high-definition transition, revised programming schedule, digital-platform incident, and controversial satirical and musical content represent its principal recorded milestones.
History
Makan 33 emerged from the reorganization of Israel's public broadcasting system under the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation, known publicly as Kan. It replaced Channel 33 and was established as a dedicated Arabic-language free-to-air television service. The channel began broadcasting on May 15, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. Its stated audience is Israel's Arab community, and its programming provides Arabic-language public media within the broader Kan portfolio. The channel's early development was closely linked to the need to establish a recognizable Arabic-language service under the new public broadcaster. Rather than functioning solely as a relay for general Israeli public television, Makan 33 developed a schedule containing Arabic news, cultural and entertainment programming, satire, sports, and other material intended for Arabic-speaking viewers. The available reference material does not identify a single founder or a separate corporate entity behind the channel; it is a channel brand operated on behalf of Kan. Sport became an important early expansion area. In March 2018, Kan announced that Makan 33 would broadcast the FIFA World Cup played in Russia later that year. The decision had historical significance because the former Channel 33 had previously attempted to provide Arabic coverage of the 2010 tournament but abandoned the plan after receiving threats reportedly associated with Al-Jazeera Sports. Makan 33's World Cup coverage consequently represented both a programming milestone and a renewed effort to make major international events available to Arabic-speaking viewers through Israel's public broadcaster. On July 1, 2018, during the tournament, Makan 33 shifted to high-definition transmission on the DVB-T2 multiplex of Idan+, Israel's digital terrestrial television platform. After the World Cup concluded, the channel introduced a new schedule. The reference material associates that schedule with a cost of NIS 20 million, but does not specify enough financial context to treat the figure as a complete annual budget, a production allocation, or another defined metric. Makan 33 has operated across broadcast and online environments. In July 2019, YouTube removed the channel's account after three content strikes. Kan resolved the dispute or platform issue, demonstrating the channel's dependence on third-party digital platforms in addition to terrestrial transmission and its official website. The channel's editorial output has also been contested. In May 2020, the BDS movement objected to a segment of the satirical series Al-Balad Al-Bahir that included actors from Fauda. The organization interpreted the item as Israeli propaganda and as serving what it called the Zionist project against the Palestinian people. This criticism placed Makan 33 within wider debates about whether Arabic-language public media produced by an Israeli institution can represent Arab and Palestinian audiences independently of state and national narratives. In January 2022, the channel aired Dubai, Dubai, a parody song concerning Israel's normalization of relations with the United Arab Emirates. The item generated negative reactions in other Arab countries, adding a regional dimension to the channel's existing political sensitivities. These episodes, together with its sports and technical developments, illustrate the dual role of Makan 33: it is a public broadcasting service intended to broaden linguistic access in Israel, while also being scrutinized because of the political implications of its ownership, subject matter, and editorial choices. The documented record does not provide a full list of executives, detailed ratings, complete programming archives, or independently verified financial statements. Makan 33 is nevertheless identifiable as an active Kan channel whose principal historical milestones are its 2017 launch, the 2018 World Cup and high-definition transition, its revised post-tournament schedule, its 2019 YouTube dispute, and later criticism connected with satire and regional normalization politics.
- 2019
YouTube channel dispute
[1]YouTube removed the channel after three content strikes, and Kan stated that the matter was resolved.
- 2018
First Arabic broadcast of the FIFA World Cup by the new channel
[1]Kan announced that Makan 33 would carry the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Arabic.
- 2018
High-definition transmission begins
[1]On July 1, Makan 33 moved to high-definition transmission through the Idan+ DVB-T2 multiplex.
- 2018
Post-World Cup schedule introduced
[1]After the tournament, Makan 33 launched a new schedule reportedly associated with NIS 20 million in spending.
- 2017
Launch of Makan 33
[1]Makan 33 began broadcasting on May 15, 2017, at 5:30 p.m., replacing Channel 33 as Kan's Arabic-language free-to-air television service.
Products and positioning
A public-service Arabic-language television channel for Israel's Arab-speaking community, combining news, culture, entertainment, satire, sport, and digital video within the Kan broadcasting group.
Arabic-language public television channel · 2017
Makan 33 television service
The core Makan 33 offering is a free-to-air Arabic-language television service operated by Kan. It targets Israel's Arab-speaking community and combines public-service broadcasting with news, culture, entertainment, satire, sports, and other scheduled programming. The service is distributed through Israeli television infrastructure and has also maintained an online video presence.
Sports television · 2018
Arabic sports broadcasting
Makan 33 expanded its sports offering by broadcasting the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Arabic. The tournament was notable as the first World Cup carried in Arabic by the new Makan 33 service, following an earlier but abandoned attempt involving its predecessor, Channel 33.
Online video
Digital video channel
Makan 33 has used online video distribution in addition to linear broadcasting. Its YouTube channel was removed in 2019 after three content strikes, after which Kan reported that the issue had been resolved.
Brand decisions
2018
Broadcast the 2018 FIFA World Cup in ArabicProduct launchBackground
Kan sought to provide major international sports coverage to Arabic-speaking viewers. The predecessor Channel 33 had previously considered Arabic coverage of the 2010 tournament but abandoned the plan after reported threats associated with Al-Jazeera Sports.
Action taken
Kan selected Makan 33 to broadcast the 2018 FIFA World Cup from Russia in Arabic.
Aftermath
The tournament became a major early programming milestone for the channel and was followed by a revised schedule.
2018
Move to high-definition terrestrial broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
During the 2018 World Cup, Makan 33 upgraded its technical distribution.
Action taken
The channel began high-definition transmission on the Idan+ DVB-T2 digital terrestrial multiplex on July 1, 2018.
Aftermath
Makan 33 continued with a new schedule after the World Cup ended.
2018
Introduce a post-tournament programming scheduleStrategyBackground
The channel's schedule was reassessed after its World Cup programming concluded.
Action taken
Makan 33 launched a new schedule, reported in the reference material as costing NIS 20 million.
Aftermath
The available material does not provide sufficient detail about the spending period, budget category, or longer-term performance.
Reported cost of the new schedule. NIS 20 million (2018, after the FIFA World Cup)
Recent events
- 2022
Dubai, Dubai parody generates regional criticism[1]
Other
A parody song about the normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates prompted negative reactions from audiences in other Arab countries.
- 2020
BDS movement criticizes Al-Balad Al-Bahir segment[1]
Campaign · Other
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement criticized a satirical segment featuring actors from Fauda, describing it as Israeli propaganda and as supportive of the Zionist project.
- 2019
Makan 33 YouTube channel removed after content strikes[1]
Other
YouTube removed Makan 33's channel after three content strikes. Kan reported that the issue was resolved.
- 2018
Kan announces Arabic-language FIFA World Cup coverage[1]
Product launch · Other
Kan announced that Makan 33 would broadcast the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Arabic, a first for the new channel.
- 2018
Makan 33 moves to high-definition terrestrial transmission[1]
Product generation
During the 2018 World Cup, the channel moved to high-definition broadcasting through the Idan+ DVB-T2 multiplex.
- 2017
Makan 33 begins broadcasting as Kan's Arabic-language television service[1]
Product launch
Makan 33 started broadcasting on May 15, 2017, replacing the former Channel 33 and serving as Kan's Arabic-language free-to-air television channel.
Sources2 sources
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