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Sunday, February 8, 2026
Reports: Channel 13 owner accepts bid for controlling share pushed by PM’s circle, rejects larger rival offer
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Billionaire Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries has reportedly accepted an offer made by businessman Patrick Drahi, who is widely considered to be a supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to buy Channel 13, despite a larger rival offer.
The deal would would still need to be approved by regulatory agencies and competition authorities.
“We are delighted to bring new investors into our shareholder structure and to collaborate with the Drahi family in advancing the vision of Channel 13 and its long-term positioning,” the notification to Access Industries shareholders states, according to the Globes financial daily.
Globes notes that the funding appears to be coming from the family, rather than Drahi’s telecommunications giant Altice, which has had some financial difficulties.
According to Walla, sources close to Netanyahu told Blavatnik that the offer from Drahi, who owns the HOT cable channel and i24NEWS, would be approved faster than a larger offer by a rival group.
The Marker says a message was conveyed to Blavatnik that the bid from Drahi would be approved by the government “in five minutes.”
Reports say Drahi would immediately pay $25 million in return for 15-25 percent of the shares in Channel 13, eventually rising to 75% for a total of $40-50 million.
That offer is in contrast to the one put forward by a group led by Wiz founders Assaf Rappaport, Yinon Costica, Ami Luttwak and Roy Reznik, whose bid was much higher — pledging around $100 million in investments into the channel in two stages over a three year period for 74% of shares, reports say.
The Marker says the high-tech group stated it aimed to invest in the channel in a bid to strengthen the news company and preserve independent journalism.
According to Walla, Blavatnik and the group of tech leaders had hit an obstacle over who would immediately invest money into the channel until there was regulatory approval, with Blavatnik reportedly told by those close to the premier that it could take months until it was granted.
The Marker reports that Drahi would not be able to formally take control of Channel 13 because he owns HOT and i24NEWS, and instead the channel’s CEO will hold the shares.
The financial outlet says that while Drahi would be holding a minority stake, he would be the only new investor, which would make him the de facto controlling shareholder.
According to Walla, if the sale to Drahi were to be finalized and the outlets were to merge (although it remains unclear if that would happen), a mass wave of layoffs could be expected at both Channel 13 and i24NEWS.
Channel 13 has been fighting for survival for a number of years, with past claims that journalists were fired for voicing criticism of Netanyahu and the government. Rappaport and his company have also criticized the government, particularly over the contentious judicial overhaul.
The Times of Israel Community.