Israel Broadcasting Authority

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.

Related Topics:
Hebrew - Israel - State broadcasting - 14 May - 1948 - 1951 - Knesset - 6 June - 1965 - 2 May - 1968 - 13 January - 1981

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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.

Related Topics:
Television - Radio

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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 which operated offshore, outside Israeli territorial waters. Thus from the late sixties to the early nineties Israelis had to make due with only a single Hebrew-language television channel they could tune in to.

Related Topics:
Second Israeli Broadcasting Authority - Cable television - Israel Educational Television - Israel Army Radio

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

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