The opposition scored one Thursday morning as amendment 6 to the Economic Plan Bill did not pass its third reading in the Knesset Plenum. It was rejected by a 48-48 tie vote.
Before the vote, Economic Affairs Committee Chairman MK Michael Biton (Blue&White) presented the bill, which proposed to extend by a year the validity of the transitional provision enacted in the Arrangements Law for years 2017 and 2018, as part of the amendment to the Law for the Distribution of Broadcasts Through Digital Broadcast Stations (2012).
The amendment stipulated that content providers who serve as platforms for the distribution of broadcasts on the Internet may receive, free of charge, the broadcasts of certain television channels that are distributed by the “Idan Plus” digital terrestrial television and radio broadcasting system.
But, as part of this amendment, a transitional provision that’s due to expire on January 1, 2022 would be extended, stipulating that during the transition period, some of the broadcast entities that are a part of the Idan Plus service: TV channels Rehet, Keshet and the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11)—may charge a fee from Internet content providers that transmit their broadcasts, in addition to payments to copyright holders.
Well, it’s not going to happen.