IVP, producer of The Israeli Network, has signed a distribution agreement with US satellite company EchoStar Communications for a Hebrew language channel for Israelis and Jews throughout the US.
The channel will include Israeli television programs and productions, edited and broadcast from Israel to the US. Revenue will come from advertising and from subscriptions. The station will be marketed as an EchoStar Communications channel package for $19.99. The station is scheduled to go on the air at the end of week. The entrepreneurs expect to reach 150,000 households in Canada and the US.
The station is planned to broadcast eight hours a day, with two repeat broadcasts covering the entire 24-hour day. It will include news highlights, sports events, children's programs, commentaries and entertainment. The entrepreneurs also promise to broadcast live outstanding sports events and commentaries.
In its programs, the station will include: daily "Mabat", "Yoman", "Friday at the Tavern", the "Shemesh" and "Tironut" series, "Politica" with Dan Margalit, "Etzel Meni", first league football games, "Shaar 5" summary, cooking series "Shum, Pilpel VeShemn Zait", Educational Television's "Tik Tikshoret" and more.
The entrepreneurs say they have already signed contracts with Israel Broadcasting Authority, the sports channel, Reshet, Tel-Ad Educational Television.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 9 September, 2001