Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., September 29, 2008 Elul 29, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:21 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Channel 10 offers to pay its debts By Ophir Bar-Zohar Channel 10 will recognize its past debts to the state, and the Second Television and Radio Authority and the television broadcaster will attempt to reach an agreement on payment, the sides agreed in a meeting last Friday. Representatives of the television station presented the authority with a document written in English and signed by the shareholders: Ron Lauder, Joseph Maiman and Arnon Milchan. Advertisement The document stated that the owners would provide the funds necessary to pay off the debts, and were interested in reaching an agreement. The owners also wrote they were providing the channel with the funds to pay off the debts, in expectation that this would lead to an extension of the broadcaster's franchise. However, the document did not include any mention of the amounts the owners committed to, and more talks will be held in coming days to discuss a framework and timetable for paying off the debts. As to Channel 10's debts, three months ago the Turjeman Committee, which was established to examine the whether the broadcaster had met its commitments, determined the television station owed the state no less than NIS 103 million. NIS 23 million was for franchise fees and royalties, which had not been paid. The committee also recommended extending Channel 10's franchise for an additional two years by changing the law, but such legislation never passed the Knesset's Economic Affairs Committee. As a result, the Second Broadcasting Authority's board decided at the beginning of August to revoke Channel 10's franchise - and publish a new tender to operate the station. In another significant development presently underway, an interministerial committee is meeting to examine canceling the entire television franchise arrangement used now, and instituting a system of broadcasting licenses. This would allow anyone who meets certain criteria to receive a broadcasting license - and it is clear that Channel 10 wishes to solve its debt problem before such a step is taken. A spokesperson for Channel 10 responded on Friday: "This morning the shareholders presented the chairman of the authority a letter in which they commit [themselves] to place the resources and necessary guarantees to pay for past commitments. This will allow the extension of the channel's franchise." The Second Broadcasting Authority did not comment on the matter. Two other important decisions were made on Friday by the Second Broadcasting Authority, which approved Channel 2 franchisee Keshet's purchase of 40% of the Music 24 channel. The Second Authority also allowed the sale of Arcadi Gaydamak's Radio 99 to Radio 103, which is owned by Eli Azur, David Weissman, Amnon Dick and the Club Hotel chain. Gaydamak was forced to sell his shares in the radio station after he entered politics, including his bid for mayor of Jerusalem, and the Second Authority refused to allow him to continue to own the station. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Defending against Iran U.S. deploys early-warning radar system at Israeli base to detect Iranian missiles. Chinese train in Israel Haifa stadium had been turned into mock Bird's Nest in pre-Olympics exercises.

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