Media News - Thursday, August 16, 2012

Israel: Government gets serious about debts of television broadcasters

Israeli commercial television broadcasters are in bad financial shape already, but yesterday evening the governing council of the Second Authority for Television and Radio decided to put an end to their failure to repay debts to the state. The authority is threatening to seize the monetary guarantees put up by the three broadcasters: the two Channel 2 franchisees, Keshet and Reshet, and Channel 10, each of which owes massive past-due debts to the state for royalty payments and franchise fees. The authority declared that if these debts, which were due by the end of 2011, are not paid by September 2, 19 days from the date of the decision, the authority will seize the broadcasters' bank guarantees. The monies involved are so-called "regulatory debts," payments the broadcasters are required to pay either to the state in royalties and fees, or for the production of "quality programming" as defined in the broadcaster's license. The decision applies only to the debts owed to the state for the license fees and royalties as of the end of 2011. It does not include additional sums owed by the broadcasters for 2012. (Haaretz)

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