European Broadcasting chairman: KAN privatization will harm country’s democratic foundations

In a letter on Wednesday addressed to the Knesset’s Economic Affairs Committee chairperson, MK David Bitan, Noel Curran, the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) director general, expressed deep concern over the proposed legislation to privatize Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC), known as KAN.

According to Curran, “Such a move would not only jeopardize Israel’s media landscape but could also have significant ramifications for the country’s democratic foundations and international reputation.”

Bitan hosted a contentious debate early Wednesday over Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s attempt to privatize parts of KAN. The letter came after The Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday that the privatization would, with near certainty, lead to KAN’s expulsion from the EBU.

Curran’s letter also confirmed the Post’s report that KAN’s removal from the EBU would block Israel from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Karhi, during the committee meeting, downplayed the matter and said that the EBU was being “operated by KAN.” He did not provide proof of this claim.

According to Curran, “Public service media [PSM] plays an indispensable role in fostering societies, ensuring that citizens have access to accurate, timely, and objective news and information.

“Across Europe, PSM organizations are viewed as cornerstones of democracy, providing platforms for diverse voices, cultural expression, and national cohesion,” he wrote.

'Pillar of democracy'

According to Curran, “The investments made in KAN’s journalism and its independence are not only important nationally. They are projected onto the international stage through the EBU’s [Eurovision] News Exchange network and seen right across Europe.

“No other media outlet in Israel can or, without EBU membership, will be able to access that international network,” Curran wrote.

“Shutting down the IPBC, taking control or reducing its budget, would signal a departure from the standards upheld by democratic nations worldwide and risk eroding not only domestic confidence but also international credibility,” Curran wrote.

“The Israeli public broadcaster has been a member of the EBU since 1957. Its membership... provides Israelis with significant benefits, including a role in key international events such as the Eurovision Song Contest – the best-performing TV show in Israel last year – and access to major sports rights, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, ensuring free-to-air coverage for all Israelis.

“KAN’s active participation in the international creative industry has showcased Israel’s talent, culture, and innovation to the world,” Curran continued.

He added, “Privatizing the IPBC would jeopardize this relationship and almost certainly lead to KAN’s exclusion from our union, diminishing the nation’s role in key events and restricting Israeli citizens access to such content.”

“As we have highlighted, EBU membership also means that Kan is a member of our international [Eurovision] News Exchange. KAN’s coverage of events such as the shocking October 7 attacks was the most widely distributed and viewed news footage around Europe at that time through the news exchange.

“Weakening or dismantling this institution could lead to a vacuum in reliable news dissemination, both domestically and internationally,” Curran wrote.

Further, “The EBU urges you to carefully consider the broader implications of privatizing the IPBC or reducing its funding and its ability to operate sustainably and independently.

“Public service broadcasters are more than media outlets; they are pillars of democracy, culture, and societal cohesion. Dismantling or privatizing a public service broadcasting institution is an almost unprecedented step in European media history.

“It is not an action that will go unnoticed. The potential loss of KAN would weaken the range of news, free-to-air sports, local programming, quality children’s programs, and much more available to Israeli citizens. It will inevitably affect international perceptions of Israel,” he said.

Curran concluded by writing, “We are ready to engage in dialogue and provide any support necessary to safeguard the future of public service media in Israel.”