Israel to get Arabic channel


Israel is to launch the country’s first independent Arabic-language channel after the Communications Ministry granted a licence to Hala TV.

The channel, which will air a raft of family programming, sports and reality shows, will launch later this year. The network, which will be available across cable and satellite platforms.  was launched after eight local Arab and Israeli businesses clubbed together to invest NIS20 million (€3.2 million).

“The communications administration, minister Moshe Kachlon and myself wanted to build this channel for a long time,” said Nitzan Chen, the ministry’s chief regulator and chairman for cable and satellite TV broadcasting.