Channel 2 (Hebrew: ערוץ שתיים - Arutz Shtaim), also called "The Second Channel" (הערוץ השני - HaArutz HaSheni) is an Israelicommercialtelevision channel. Its production studios are located in Neve Ilan, near Jerusalem.[1]
In 1990, after 13 years of deliberations, the Knesset passed a law that paved the way for the establishment of commercial television in Israel. The goal was to enhance pluralism and create competition. Channel 2 began broadcasting on 4 November 1993. Three concessionaires were chosen: Keshet, Telad and Reshet.[2] The concessionaires received a broadcasting contract for one decade and worked out a rotation agreement amongst themselves.[3]
In 2005, the Ministry of Communications announced that two concessionaires would receive broadcasting contracts for the following decade.[4] Of the four competitors (the fourth being Kan), Keshet and Reshet were chosen. Telad, which lost the bid, stopped broadcasting on Channel 2 in October 2005. Keshet and Reshet broadcast 3 or 4 days a week, rotating every two years. In 2011, Channel 2 installed a new digital system to preserve news content that was stored on aging videotapes and manage its archive library.[1]
