European Broadcasting Union warns privatizing Kan could undermine Israel’s democracy
Union also says the move, planned by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, could hamper Israel’s participation in Eurovision and broadcasts of soccer World Cup

The European Broadcasting Union sent a letter to Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday expressing “deep concern” over government plans to privatize the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, known as Kan.
“Such a move would not only jeopardize Israel’s media landscape but could also have significant ramifications for the country’s democratic foundations and international reputation,” the letter to the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee read.
“Shutting down the IPBC, taking control or reducing its budget, would signal a departure from the standards upheld by democratic nations worldwide and risk eroding not only domestic confidence but also international credibility,” the letter stated.
It also warned that Israel could lose access to the Eurovision Song Contest, which the union organizes, and broadcasts of international sporting events.
“[Kan’s] membership of the EBU provides Israelis with significant benefits, including a role in key international events such as the Eurovision Song Contest – the best-performing TV show in Israel last year – and access to major sports rights, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, ensuring free-to-air coverage for all Israelis,” the letter read.
“Kan’s active participation in the international creative industry has showcased Israel’s talent, culture, and innovation to the world,” it said.
“Privatizing the IPBC would jeopardize this relationship and almost certainly lead to Kan’s exclusion from our Union, diminishing the nation’s role in key events and restricting Israeli citizens’ access to such content,” the EBU says.
The EBU also noted that Kan`s coverage of the Hamas onslaught on October 7, 2023, in which Hamas terrorists killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, was the most widely distributed news footage via their news exchange.

“Weakening or dismantling this institution could lead to a vacuum in reliable news dissemination, both domestically and internationally,” the EBU warned.
Adding to their warnings, former Supreme Court justice Hanan Melcer, who now serves as president of the Israeli Press Council, cautioned that the government’s plans to overhaul the media market pose “a danger to Israeli democracy,” citing the initiative to privatize the IPBC as one of a series of measures intended to gut the free press.
“If we look at the picture as a whole, it is to negate the democratic nature of the state, because its democratic nature depends on free media and this is the case in all democratic countries,” Melcer told lawmakers, at a session of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee.
In response, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi reiterated his intention to privatize or close down Kan.
“The private market is suffocating from excessive regulation and public broadcasting is not public and sometimes harmful,” Karhi said, calling for a “substantive, responsible discussion that is the basis for democratic decision-making.”
“Public broadcasting was required in the last century; today there is no justification for funding such a product at public expense, certainly not in news and current affairs,” he added.
“I intend to privatize or close the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation; not only is it worthless, it harms the market and perpetuates injustices,” the minister said, railing against “propaganda” and “biased, offensive broadcasts.”
“My vision for public broadcasting is no news and current affairs funded by the public. When they say I want Russia, it is exactly the opposite. Channel 11 will be dedicated to original productions and Israeli creations only,” with the government allocating NIS 500 million ($139 million) for such content, Karhi said.
Karhi has been leading a series of legislative moves that critics say will erode the free press, including efforts to grant the government oversight over television ratings data, privatize Army Radio and boycott the left-wing Haaretz newspaper.
Th bills’ backers argue that their legislation would liberalize the media market and increase competition.