Israel Broadcasting Authority

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Israel Broadcasting Authority (often referred to as the IBA) (Hebrew: רשות השידור, Reshut haShidur) is Israel's state broadcasting network. It grew out of the radio station Kol Yisrael, which made its first broadcast as an independent station on 14 May 1948. The name of the organisation operating Kol Yisrael was changed to Israel Broadcasting Service in 1951. The law creating the Israel Broadcasting Authority was passed by the Knesset on 6 June 1965. Television broadcasts commenced on 2 May 1968, with colour television following on 13 January 1981.

It operates three television channels and several radio stations. IBA's television stations are ostensibly commercials-free, however programs are often "sponsored" by commercial entities. Full advertising on the radio is allowed however.

In 1990, the Israeli government created the Second Israeli Broadcasting Authority whose function was to facilitate commercial television and private radio broadcasts in Israel for the first time. Until the establishment of the Second Broadcasting Authority and the widespread availability of cable television services in Israel (which also produce their own programming directed at the local market that is broadcast via cable) in the early 1990s, the IBA maintained a virtual monopoly on television and radio broadcasting and production in Israel. There were a few exceptions, such as the morning and afternoon broadcasts delivered through IBA's television channel which were produced by Israel Educational Television, the popular Israel Army Radio service, and a private radio station (the Voice of Peace) which operated offshore, outside Israeli territorial waters.

Israel Broadcasting Authority domestic programming and broadcasts are funded by levying television licence fees upon the owners of television sets. Additional funding is received by "sponsorship" from commercial entities and from radio advertisements.

The IBA has been a long-standing member of the European Broadcasting Union (the EBU).

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TV channels

Haarutz Ha-Rishon ("Channel 1"): the IBA main TV channel.
Arutz 33 ("Channel 33").
List of Israeli television channels

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Radio stations

Kol Yisrael ("The Voice of Israel") is the collective name for IBA's radio networks as well as for the international service.

Reshet Aleph ("Network A"): radio station.
Reshet Beit ("Network B"): popular radio station.
Reshet Gimel ("Network C"): radio station devoted for promoting Israeli music.
Reshet Dalet ("Network D"): radio station in arabic.
Reka (Collect immigration radio): radio for the immigrants to Israel. Broadcast in 13 languages (mostly Russian). In the past, it's called "Kol zion la'golah" ("Voice of Israel abroad") and Reshet hey ("Network E").
88 FM: radio for quality music.
Kol ha-musika ("The Voice of Music"): a radio station devoted for promoting classical music.