Channel 10 announces impending closure on Wednesday, blames Netanyahu

Television station halts regular broadcasting on Sunday night, pointing at PM for failing to resolve channel's long-lasting financial problems.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Channel 10 shutdown message (photo credit: screenshot)
Channel 10 shutdown message
(photo credit: screenshot)
Channel 10 announced on Sunday that it would go off the air starting on Wednesday.
The television station halted regular broadcasting on Sunday night, blaming Prime Minister Netanyahu for failing to resolve Channel 10's long-lasting financial problems.
An announcement displaying Netanyahu's picture appeared on the TV channel as the broadcast cut off around 10:30 p.m.
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who serves as communications minister, refuses to find a solution," the announcement said. "Due to this, the workers' union has decided to stop Channel 10's broadcast tonight."
The message read that the station would temporarily resume its broadcast at 6 a.m. Monday before its impending closure in three days.
Israel's second commercial channel faces less than three days remaining before the Second Authority for Television and Radio forecloses its guarantees, and one week before its license expires and the channel is completely closed down.
Last Thursday, Channel 10 CEO Yossi Warshavsky stated that the channel had raised NIS 36 million to pay its debt to the Second Authority, and called on the authority's council to grant the channel a license.
Globes contributed to this report.