When Channel 14’s “Main Edition” dethroned Channel 11 and Channel 13 to become the nation’s second-most watched prime-time news program last week, Israel’s openly conservative Channel 14 television became the topic of conversation (Channel 12 remained in the top spot).
Although the cause is apparent—the rating increase began on March 5 and coincided with Sharon Gal’s switch from Channel 13 to Channel 14—Channel 14 has been outpacing its rivals for some time.
Popular Channel 14 news anchor Lital Shemesh told JNS that the ratings have increased over the previous six months.
The ratings for “The Patriots,” a panel discussion show where guests offer their opinions on current affairs, rose steadily over the previous six months, from 2.2% to 4.5% between September 2022 and February 2023. Compared to January 2022, 1.4%, the Israel Audience Research Board reports (IARB). Similar to how “Main Edition” had increased in ratings before Gal’s appearance.
In its early years, Channel 14 was known as Channel 20, a moreshet, or “legacy,” network whose programming focused on Jewish history, religion, culture, and custom. Shemesh, who joined the channel in 2015, a year after it was established, claimed that one factor contributing to the channel’s delayed success was the fact that it was initially a moreshet channel.
Shemesh credited social media for unintentionally bringing attention to the notion that traditional channels are not objective news providers but players in the political game as one aspect working in Channel 14’s favor.
“People view the tweets sent by journalists, and they are contemplating. She continued that they are now making sensible decisions with their remote control when choosing what to watch.
In November 2021, Channel 20 changed its name to Channel 14.
“That action significantly raised our ratings. We were nearer to the other channels as a result,” Shemesh added. Israel’s three biggest news stations are 11, 12, and 13.
Asaf Nissan, who joined the channel soon after it relocated to Channel 14 and served as assistant editor of “The Patriots,” the channel’s most popular program, said that dropping down the dial was a significant element in the channel’s recent success, characterizing it as a branding issue.
“Channel 20 was described as less of a right-wing news channel and more of a conservative, Jewish channel. That made things easier when they opted to promote themselves as a news station on channel 14, right next to other news channels on the remote,” he remarked.
Nissan likened the ascent of Channel 14 to that of Fox News, which provided a counterpoint to the mainstream, liberal news outlets.
The liberal channels 12 and 13 are. The public television channel Channel 11 makes an effort to take a more impartial stance, but it nevertheless promotes a more liberal ideology. They were weary of hearing the same thing continuously.
They desired diversity, he claimed.
“And in other cases, like those involving Judea and Samaria, Channel 14 covers it better. Even the simple substitution of the names “Judea and Samaria” for the “territories” is a significant alteration for the audience. Judicial reform is another illustration.
Only Channel 14 refers to it as judicial reform; all other networks refer to it as a judicial “revolution,” he continued.
In Nissan’s opinion, the host of “The Patriots,” Yinon Magal, also deserves a lot of praise. Nissan claimed that the program is much-liked for its clever use of comedy and its conservative attitude.
He is one of the best news reporters I’ve ever worked with and is just incredible as the anchor. He is actively engaged in the procedure. We now have a clearer idea of what we want to convey, the precise sound bites, and the themes to address.
Also, according to Nissan, he has a talent for comedy and the capacity to make fun of any circumstance.
Unexpectedly, the opposition leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid helped Channel 14’s ratings.
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