Keshet 12 Faces Backlash Over Split News Ratings And Data Transparency
Keshet 12 faces scrutiny over splitting its evening news ratings to highlight higher figures. Meanwhile, elite brings back classic products, and Menora Mivtachim hosts a major union conference.
The television ratings landscape in Israel is facing new scrutiny following a controversial move by Keshet 12. During a recent Thursday broadcast, the network's flagship evening news edition dipped to a single-digit rating of 9.8%, falling below its customary double-digit dominance. However, the following morning, PR materials distributed by the network reported a higher figure of 10.6%.
The Controversy Behind the Split Ratings
An investigation into the data revealed that the broadcast was artificially divided into two separate segments. The first half registered the higher 10.6% rating, while the subsequent portion dropped to 9.1%. Industry competitors voiced strong objections to this segmentation, arguing it misrepresents overall viewership trends and undermines public trust in the official ratings committee.
"Such events damage the credibility of the entire market regarding the committee's data and daily corporate reporting," noted an industry insider familiar with the matter.
Upcoming Committee Review and Industry Rules
According to established market guidelines, splitting a broadcast is strictly limited to exceptional breaking news events that extend airtime, and requires broad coordination. Because Thursday's broadcast followed a standard schedule without extraordinary developments, the unauthorized split drew formal complaints. The research committee of the ratings body is scheduled to convene next month to address the incident and review enforcement boundaries.
In related corporate news, other sectors of the Israeli economy continue to see major developments. Elite, a subsidiary of the "Strauss" group, announced the return of 16 classic products following consumer demand, including nostalgic favorites like Pesek Zman and Zip. Meanwhile, "Menora Mivtachim" hosted its annual labor union conference in Tel Aviv, gathering roughly 250 union leaders to discuss corporate governance and leadership dynamics.
