Second Authority chair Mordechai Shklar will propose that the Knesset's Economics Committee require one of the Channel 2 franchisees to finance the operation of Channel 10 should franchisee Israel 10 return its broadcast license.
Shklar hopes to operate Channel 10 along the lines of Britain's Channel 4, which was originally financed from the revenues of commercial channel ITV. Channel 2 franchisees will be entitled to sell advertising on Channel 10, but the channel will have a separate management from Channel 2.
In Shklar's opinion, it is possible to require the Channel 2 franchisees to finance Channel 10's continued operation, due to a special clause in the recent two-year extension of their franchises. The clause entitles the Second Television and Radio Authority to change the requirements imposed on the franchisees in the event Channel 10 collapses.
Shklar said yesterday that if a new tender is held for the operation of Channel 10, he does not support the transfer of the license to a franchisee, and he is not in talks with any Channel 2 franchisees on a transition to Channel 10.
Israel 10 was supposed to submit its business plan for continued operation to the court yesterday, but did not do so. If the plan is not submitted by Wednesday, Tel Aviv District Court could revoke its protection from creditors, leading to immediate liquidation.
