EBU Warns KAN Funding Bill Could Threaten Israel’s Eurovision Future
The European Broadcasting Union has warned that proposed changes to the funding of Israel’s public broadcaster KAN could harm Israel’s international standing and threaten its continued participation in major global broadcasting events, including Eurovision.
The European Broadcasting Union has warned that proposed changes to the funding of Israel’s public broadcaster KAN could harm Israel’s international standing and threaten its continued participation in major global broadcasting events, including Eurovision.
Noel Curran, director-general of the EBU, sent a letter to MK Hanoch Milwidsky, chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee, expressing “deep concern” over a bill currently under discussion. The proposal would abolish KAN’s fixed budget, which is currently anchored in law, and place funding decisions under greater government oversight.
Curran warned that reducing KAN’s financial autonomy could damage public trust in Israel and weaken the international perception of Israeli broadcasting. He said independent public broadcasting is central to Israel’s membership in the global media community and to its participation in events such as the Eurovision Song Contest, the World Cup and the Olympic Games.
The warning came one week after Israeli contestant Noam Bettan finished second in Eurovision, giving Israel a prominent cultural moment on the international stage.
Curran said KAN’s role in Eurovision and in EBU news exchanges had strengthened Israel’s international media partnerships. He said the broadcaster had continued operating under “exceptionally challenging circumstances” while providing an essential public service.
“Maintaining the conditions that enable independence and autonomy is therefore important not only for the corporation itself but also for preserving the values and partnerships that form the foundation of participation in the international public media community,” Curran wrote.
The letter comes after a tense Eurovision season for KAN. Earlier this month, the EBU accused the Israeli broadcaster of violating voting rules by encouraging viewers to vote multiple times for Bettan. KAN removed the advertisement after an EBU warning.
Israeli Eurovision fans rejected the accusation, arguing that EBU rules allow up to 10 votes per user. In a public letter, they accused the union of unfairly targeting Israel under political pressure.