Israel ranks third for Hollywood imports

Israel’s entertainment industry, like every other Israeli industry, understands the limitations of its size.

That’s why it has concentrated on producing concepts, also called “formats,” for television shows rather than attempting to produce expensive shows indigenously.

These formats are then sold to larger, wealthier countries’ entertainment industries for production.

That’s how, as Forbes reports, Israel has become the third-largest source of American television content, after Britain and Holland.

Three firms “dominate the format business,” the magazine reports: Keshet Media Group, Dori Media and Armoza Formats.

The three alone have sold over 100 shows outside the country – including to France, Brazil and even Muslim countries such as Indonesia.

More famously, Dori Media’s “Betipul” became the American show “In Treatment,” which won Emmy, Golden Globe, Peabody and Writers Guild awards over its three-season run.

The American version went further than sharing a “format” with its Israeli predecessor. The script often included direct translations from Israeli episodes. The Israeli show’s creators, Hagai Levi, Nir Bergman and Ori Sivan are listed on the Internet Movie Database as co-creators of the American show.

Keshet’s “Prisoners of War” (“Hatufim” in Hebrew) became Showtime’s “Homeland,” which Forbes reports draws on average 1.66 million viewers per episode. It too boasts both Emmy and Golden Globe awards.