Government bill · 18th Knesset · published as law 31 December 2009
חוק רשות השידור (תיקון מס' 22), התש"ע-2009Law Broadcasting Authority (Amendment No. 22), 2009 · automatic translation · suggest a correction
Status: התקבלה בקריאה שלישית
Topics: Communications, media and technology* · * from the Knesset's official law classification
Readings
- 14 December 2009 · First reading · להעביר את הצעת החוק לוועדההצעת חוק רשות השידור (תיקון מס' 23), התש"ע-2009Bill for the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment No. 23), 2009autoBill passed first reading22 for · 5 against
- 28 December 2009 · Third reading · אישור החוקהצעת חוק רשות השידור (תיקון מס' 22), התש"ע-2009Bill Broadcasting Authority (Amendment No. 22), 2009autoLaw passed43 for · 12 against
What was said in the plenum
The bill seeks to extend by one additional year (until the end of 2010) the authority of the minister responsible for the Broadcasting Authority to reduce the broadcasting and local production obligations imposed on it by law, due to its difficult financial situation. The discussion revolved around the question of whether reducing local production commitments is the right way to deal with the Broadcasting Authority's crisis, alongside broad criticism of its functioning, funding, and the regulation of the communications market in general.
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Hebrew original
הצעת החוק מבקשת להאריך בשנה נוספת (עד סוף 2010) את סמכות השר הממונה על רשות השידור להפחית את חובות השידור וההפקות המקומיות המוטלות עליה בחוק, בשל מצבה הכספי הקשה. הדיון נסב סביב השאלה האם הפחתת מחויבויות ההפקה המקומית היא הדרך הנכונה להתמודד עם משבר רשות השידור, לצד ביקורת רחבה על תפקודה, מימונה והסדרת שוק התקשורת בכלל.
Arguments for
- The Broadcasting Authority's difficult financial situation requires allowing the responsible minister temporary flexibility to reduce broadcasting obligations and spending on local productions, in order to prevent further financial difficulties until a comprehensive reform is implemented.Yuli Yoel Edelstein (Likud), Ofir Akunis (Likud)
- It is better to reduce the scope in a limited manner than to reach a situation of complete cancellation of broadcasts or the closure of networks and non-payment of salaries.Ofir Akunis (Likud)
Arguments against
- Reducing the local production requirement harms the uniqueness and role of a public broadcasting authority, which is supposed to produce quality content rather than be dragged into ratings culture.
- The funding crisis of the Broadcasting Authority should be solved through other means, such as changing the method of collecting the fee (for example, via the vehicle fee), which would increase revenues instead of reducing productions.Meir Sheetrit (Kadima)
- A comprehensive and far-reaching reform is needed for the entire communications market (the Broadcasting Authority, the Second Authority, and the Cable Authority together), rather than a partial and temporary solution that places the burden on other bodies such as commercial channels.Yulia Shamalov Berkovich (Kadima)
- Supervision of broadcast content and its moral standards should be increased, rather than focusing only on the allocation of resources between types of productions.Nissim Zeev (Shas)
- The high salaries of officials at the Broadcasting Authority should be examined and reduced before adding funds to it or cutting productions.Ronit Tirosh (Kadima)
Who spoke (7)
| Member | Faction | Readings | Speeches | In the final vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuli Yoel Edelstein | Likud coalition | First reading | 1 | for |
| Meir Sheetrit | Kadima opposition | First reading | 1 | against |
| Yoel Hasson | Kadima opposition | First reading | 5 | no record |
| Ronit Tirosh | Kadima opposition | First reading | 4 | against |
| Yulia Shamalov Berkovich | Kadima opposition | First reading | 1 | no record |
| Nissim Zeev | Shas coalition | First reading | 6 | for |
| Ofir Akunis | Likud coalition | Third reading | 3 | for |
An automatic summary of the plenum transcripts: the debate on the bill at every reading it was voted on. Arguments are given as the speakers made them; this is not an assessment. The list of speakers comes from the transcript, without a model. Transcripts of the sittings: 1, 2
Reservations to the second reading
No reservations were filed to this bill.
Reservations, sections and other votes (2)
In order. Votes on reservations and individual sections are shown separately from the vote on the bill as a whole.
- 14 December 2009 · Stage unknown · הצבעההצעת חוק רשות השידור (תיקון מס' 23), התש"ע-2009Bill for the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment No. 23), 2009auto0 for · 0 againstQuestion type unknown
- 28 December 2009 · Second reading · קריאה שנייההצעת חוק רשות השידור (תיקון מס' 22), התש"ע-2009Bill Broadcasting Authority (Amendment No. 22), 2009auto47 for · 10 againstVote on sections of the bill