Radio Tzafon

Radio Tzafon 104.5FM is an Israeli regional radio station that broadcasts to the northern part of the country. It was established in 1995 as part of the first wave of regional radio franchises under the Second Authority for Television and Radio Law. The station began broadcasting on 7 September 1997 on frequencies 90.8 and 101.5 FM. Its studios are located in Tefen Tower, and it previously operated from the Achuzat Asyenda Hotel in Ma'alot-Tarshiha. The station is owned by businessman Eli Azur, who also owns the website Walla and is the publisher of The Jerusalem Post, Maariv Hashavua, and other publications. Until December 2016, it was known as "Tzafon Without Stop" (צפון ללא הפסקה). The station's programming combines talk shows on current affairs, sports, advice, and satire with contemporary music and hits from all eras. It also broadcasts seven hours of syndication from Radio 103 during the day. The station produces and edits news flashes on municipal topics related to local authorities in its reception areas, broadcast every half hour from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM under the supervision of news director Yoav Mintz. The station's programs are hosted by personalities such as Yoav Mintz, Liat Ron, Slutzki and Dominguez, Gadi Ness, Yossi Mizrahi, Erel Segal and Eyal Berkovich, Ron Shalom and Yoav Cohen, Asi Lavi (the Joker), Guy Peleg, Ron Koffman, Yoni Hilleli, and Gabi Zohar. Its franchise area as a regional station is from Metula to Hadera. The reception areas from south to north include Haifa and the Krayot, Acre and Nahariya, and Metula and Kiryat Shmona; from east to west, Tiberias and Nof HaGalil, Safed and Rosh Pina, through Karmiel and Zikhron Ya'akov. The station's broadcasts can also be heard on the radio channels of YES, HOT, Cellcom TV, and via its app and website. In November 2018, Radio Tzafon received approval to turn its secondary frequency (101.5FM) into an additional radio station called "HaTachana" (The Station), which broadcasts Mediterranean music and combines nostalgic music with contemporary hits. In September 2021, journalist Carmela Menashe filed a lawsuit against Radio Tzafon, broadcasters Ofer Dominguez and Harel Slutzki, and the station's management, alleging sexual harassment during broadcasts and damage to her reputation. Following the testimony of station CEO Rina Ben Ayun in the trial, she was fired in May 2023, and Raviv Badar was appointed CEO. In July 2024, Carmela Menashe won the lawsuit and was awarded compensation of half a million shekels. Following the outbreak of the Iron Swords War in October 2023, the station's broadcasts were conducted under fire from the station's shelter, which was converted into an emergency studio as the northernmost radio station in Israel broadcasting from Tefen Tower, about 10 km from the Israel-Lebanon border. In November 2024, at the journalism conference of the Tel Aviv Journalists Association, Radio Tzafon 104.5FM won two awards: the Radio Award for a special project was given to Radio Tzafon for its broadcasts under fire during the war, and the Outstanding Broadcaster Award was given to journalist Gadi Ness for the program "Nine with Gadi Ness" on Radio Tzafon. The content reform carried out by Shai Ben Meir and Raviv Badar proved successful and significantly increased the station's listening rates. A TGI survey published at the end of July 2026 determined that the two northern stations owned by Eli Azur, Radio Tzafon 104.5 and Radio HaTachana 101.5, continue to lead and occupy the top two spots, with Radio Tzafon 104.5 recording a listening rate of 2.9, followed by Radio HaTachana 101.5 with 2.6, then Radio Cham Esh 99.5 with 2.1 percent and Radio Haifa 107.5 with 2.2 percent, and Radio Kol Rega with 1.8 percent at the bottom of the list.

Radio Tzafon was established in 1995 as part of the first wave of regional radio franchises under the Second Authority for Television and Radio Law. The station's owners won the tender for the Galilee and Golan region in April 1995. However, the losing group, "Shidurei Tefen," owned by Stef and Eitan Wertheimer, appealed the win to the Jerusalem District Court. In August 1996, the lawsuit was rejected, and the station received a broadcasting franchise. After lengthy preparations, the station began broadcasting on 7 September 1997 on frequencies 90.8 and 101.5 FM. At the time of its launch, the station's owners included Prime Media from South Africa (39%), owned by businessman Izzy Kirsh; Avi Katz, owner of the security company Super Security (23%); Yoram Ben-Ami, owner of Pri HaEmek (27%); businessman Michael Strauss through Gideon Holdings (4.9%); serial entrepreneur Moshe Nur; and other shareholders, some of whom sold their holdings before broadcasting began. To save costs, the station signed a syndication agreement with Radio Tel Aviv, in which Izzy Kirsh was also a shareholder; it was agreed that programs from Radio Tel Aviv would be broadcast on Radio Tzafon, including Erez Tal's program "Hard but Pleasant" and Merav Michaeli's program "Lachmaniyot." In addition, it was agreed that every two weeks Erez and Michaeli would go up to Radio Tzafon's studios and broadcast directly from its studio, which was set up at the Achuzat Asyenda Hotel in Ma'alot-Tarshiha; and Michal Niv was appointed as music editor for both stations. The station struggled to generate significant advertising revenue, accumulated losses, and in 2000 the "Radio Without Stop" group, owned by Eli Azur and Dudi Weissman, acquired control of the station. A year later, it signed a management agreement with "Radio Haifa," headed by Danny Nishelis, who received full responsibility for managing its broadcasts. In January 2003, after the management agreement expired, "Radio Without Stop" personnel took over the station by force, sending four security guards to Radio Tzafon, changing locks, and the station began broadcasting music only. At the same time, "Radio Without Stop" announced that under its management the station would begin broadcasting more talk programs in current affairs. Two weeks later, the Second Authority approved the new schedule, which included syndication of programs from "Radio Without Stop," including "Mashal on the Morning" with Nissim Mashal, "Zehavi Atzbani" with Natan Zehavi, and Shmulik Tiar's program. In addition, it was agreed that original programs for northern residents would be broadcast on Radio Tzafon, and its name was changed to "Tzafon Without Stop." In February 2004, the Second Authority approved the transfer of ten daily hours from "Radio Without Stop" broadcasts to "Tzafon Without Stop." In April 2005, "Radio Without Stop" acquired all remaining shareholders and has since held 100% ownership. During the Second Lebanon War, the station suffered from Katyusha rockets and missiles fired at it but continued to broadcast. However, it suffered heavy losses due to the cessation of advertising. In March 2007, the Second Authority Council revoked the station's franchise after it failed to meet the frequency fee payment arrangement to the state. In May 2007, the station reached an agreement with the Finance Ministry on payment of the frequency fee and was allowed to continue broadcasting. In 2016, with the appointment of Shai Ben Meir as chairman of the board, he carried out a reform in the radio, canceling many syndicated programs and emphasizing regional content. As part of this, a series of leading journalists were recruited: Yossi Mizrahi (Channel 12 News) and Gadi Ness moved from Radio Haifa to Radio Tzafon; Liat Ron, economic commentator for Walla and Channel 12, began hosting a daily local current affairs program. Asi Lavi "the Joker" from Radio 99.5 was signed to host a daily entertainment program. In December 2017, Rina Ben Ayun was appointed CEO of the station. In November 2018, Radio Tzafon received approval to turn its secondary frequency (101.5FM) into an additional radio station called "HaTachana," broadcasting Mediterranean music and combining nostalgic music with contemporary hits. In September 2021, journalist Carmela Menashe, the military and security affairs correspondent for the Israel Broadcasting Corporation "Kan," filed a lawsuit against Radio Tzafon, broadcasters Ofer Dominguez and Harel Slutzki, and the radio's management, alleging they sexually harassed her during broadcasts and damaged her reputation. After Dominguez and Slutzki, who host the radio's morning program daily, included a satirical segment called "Carmela" in the program for several years, presenting her in a mocking, crude, and humiliating manner, as allegedly addicted to sex. She was also portrayed as a drug user. Following the testimony of station CEO Rina Ben Ayun in the trial, she was fired in May 2023, and Raviv Badar was appointed CEO of the station. In July 2024, Carmela Menashe won the lawsuit and was awarded compensation of half a million shekels. Following the outbreak of the Iron Swords War in October 2023, the station's broadcasts were conducted under fire from the station's shelter, which was converted into an emergency studio as the northernmost radio station in Israel broadcasting from Tefen Tower, about 10 km from the Israel-Lebanon border. In November 2024, at the journalism conference of the Tel Aviv Journalists Association, Radio Tzafon 104.5FM won two awards: the Radio Award for a special project was given to Radio Tzafon for its broadcasts under fire during the war, and the Outstanding Broadcaster Award was given to journalist Gadi Ness for the program "Nine with Gadi Ness" on Radio Tzafon. The content reform carried out by Shai Ben Meir and Raviv Badar proved successful and significantly increased the station's listening rates. A TGI survey published at the end of July 2026 determined that the two northern stations owned by Eli Azur, Radio Tzafon 104.5 and Radio HaTachana 101.5, continue to lead and occupy the top two spots, with Radio Tzafon 104.5 recording a listening rate of 2.9, followed by Radio HaTachana 101.5 with 2.6, then Radio Cham Esh 99.5 with 2.1 percent and Radio Haifa 107.5 with 2.2 percent, and Radio Kol Rega with 1.8 percent at the bottom of the list.

• Won tender for Galilee and Golan region

• Lawsuit by losing group rejected, franchise granted

• Began broadcasting on 90.8 and 101.5 FM

• Radio Without Stop group acquired control

• Forcible takeover by Radio Without Stop, name changed to Tzafon Without Stop

• Radio Without Stop acquired 100% ownership

• Franchise revoked by Second Authority Council

• Agreement with Finance Ministry, allowed to continue broadcasting

• Name changed to Radio Tzafon 104.5FM

• Rina Ben Ayun appointed CEO

• Approval to launch HaTachana on 101.5FM

• Carmela Menashe filed lawsuit

• Rina Ben Ayun fired, Raviv Badar appointed CEO

• Broadcasts under fire during Iron Swords War

• Carmela Menashe won lawsuit, awarded half a million shekels

• Won two awards at Tel Aviv Journalists Association conference

Leading regional radio station in northern Israel, focusing on local content and current affairs.

• Radio Tzafon 104.5FM

  Main radio station broadcasting to northern Israel

• HaTachana 101.5FM

  Secondary station broadcasting Mediterranean music

1. 1רדיו צפון 104.5FM official website1045fm.maariv.co.il
2. 2Radio Tzafon on Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3104.5FM רדיו צפון on Hebrew Wikipediahe.wikipedia.org