[Jerusalem Post]
Erdan announces closure of Israel Broadcast Authority
Communications minister says he is replacing IBA and Educational Television with a new structure for public broadcasting, cancelling broadcast levy.
Communications Minister Gilad Erdan announced on Thursday he is putting into motion measures to close the Israel Broadcasting Authority and Educational Television and replace them with a new structure.
The broadcast license fee will be eliminated by the end of March 2015, Erdan added.
The radio fee for vehicle owners will, however, be retained.
There are to be three television channels, one in Hebrew, one in Arabic and one for children.
The eight radio stations currently operating will remain, but the news departments will be amalgamated into a single division for radio and television. Radio commercials will be eliminated. The IBA's assets are to be sold.
The new structure will be run by a directorate that will be transparent and will not be answerable to the government, Finance Minister yair Lapid said.
