The Movement for Quality Government in Israel on Sunday demanded that the Second Authority Council clarify what enforcement steps it intends to take after an extension granted to Channel 14 to relocate its news operations to Jerusalem expires at the end of August 2026.
Israeli watchdog group demands regulator explain plans after Channel 14 Jerusalem deadline expires
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel on Sunday demanded that the Second Authority Council clarify what enforcement steps it intends to take after an extension granted to Channel 14 to relocate its news operations to Jerusalem expires at the end of August 2026.
The dispute centers on a provision of the Second Authority Law requiring that the headquarters of a news operation hold a broadcasting license be located in Jerusalem. Under the law, a holder of a small-scale broadcasting license was granted a three-year exemption from that requirement. In Channel 14's case, the exemption ended in February 2026.
Despite the expiration, the Second Authority Council decided on July 7 to delay enforcement until either the passage of the new Communications (Broadcasting) Law or the end of August 2026, whichever came first. The Movement for Quality Government argued that this decision effectively granted an additional extension after the statutory exemption had already lapsed, and said it was unclear what legal authority permitted such a move.
The Second Authority justified the delay by citing progress in legislating the new communications law and the costs and complexity involved in relocating the news operation to Jerusalem. The movement countered that provisions in the proposed law that could change the current situation have not yet taken effect, their implementation having been frozen as part of petitions currently before the High Court of Justice.
The movement stated that Channel 14 continues to broadcast from Modi'in and, to the best of its knowledge, has not taken steps to move its news operation to Jerusalem. The request follows earlier appeals by the movement regarding the Second Authority's conduct toward Channel 14, including a prior claim that the channel had not submitted its 2025 revenue data — information the movement said was necessary to determine whether Channel 14 remains eligible for small-scale license holder status and its associated benefits.
The movement sent its request to the chairman of the Second Authority Council, the authority's acting director-general, and its legal adviser. It set a deadline of August 31, 2026, for a unified response, and said it would consider further legal action, including an appeal to the relevant courts, if no response is received by that date.
- The source does not state whether Channel 14 or its representatives responded to the movement's demands or the underlying allegations.
- The source does not state what specific penalty or regulatory consequence the Second Authority Law prescribes for non-compliance with the Jerusalem headquarters requirement.
- The source does not state the current status of the new Communications (Broadcasting) Law or a projected timeline for its passage.
- The source does not state whether the Second Authority Council has previously responded to the movement's prior appeals regarding Channel 14.
- The source does not state the financial or operational scale of relocating Channel 14's news operation to Jerusalem, beyond characterizing it as costly and complex.
Read the original at The Jerusalem Post