In Praise of the Israeli Network

I am guessing that many readers will not have heard of the Israeli Network.  It is a 24 hour television station, broadcasting current Israeli television throughout the Diaspora.  In the United States, the Israeli Network is available to Dish TV satellite television subscribers.

I personally believe that the Israeli Network is one of the great recent innovations in Jewish life, perhaps on par with Birthright Israel or other philanthropic initiatives.  I believe this, in spite of the fact that this station has a limited subscriber base, and few American Jews seem to have heard of it (outside of the Israeli expatriate community, of course).

There are a number of factors that make the Israeli Network so compelling to me:

• Different perspectives on current events “over there”.  There are many news and current events programs on the Israeli Network, but “London at Kirshenbaum” is my favorite.  In addition to discussion of major events in the Israeli news, the show features detailed analysis of Arab affairs almost every day.
• Different perspectives on current events “over here”.   The “London at Kirshenbaum” program also features almost daily coverage of U.S. political scene (since we’re entering an election year).  It is fascinating to see how the American political scene gets reinterpreted through the perspective of Israeli commentators.
• New takes on familiar program formulas.   The types of Israeli television  shows generally mimic what can be found here at home – sitcoms, soap operas, and plenty of sports coverage (I’m guessing that plenty of Israeli expats need their soccer updates).  However, there always seems to be something slightly different when the Israelis implement a familiar formula.  For instance, Lior Shleyn hosts a nightly talk show that looks very similar to the Conan O’Brien show (with a touch of the antics found on Jon Stewart’s news program).  However, Lior’s show is more than just a Hebrew speaking copycat.  There seems to be an unspoken camaraderie with the guests, and a touch of self-deprecating wit, that somehow makes this appear particularly Israeli.
• Uniquely Israeli situations.  “Mesudarim” (roughly translated as “set for life”) is a situation comedy about four friends who made a bundle of cash (around $215 million) when they sold their hi-tech start-up company.  Sure, sitcoms about groups of friends are hardly original (just think of ”Friends” and “Seinfeld“).  On the other hand, this particular situation may resonate much more strongly within Israel (where hi-tech companies have sprouted up almost everywhere).  When I watch Mesudarim, I also think about the more ambivalent/nerdy way that American television portrays techies (think of current shows like “The Big Bang Theory” on CBS, or “Chuck” on NBC).
• Holiday features.  The little station identification symbol, during Hanukkah, was a little image of hanukiyah(with the correct number of lit candles every night), with “I Had a Little Dreidel” playing in the background.  Yes, this is silly, but it’s these little reminders of “Jewish time” that remind me I’m watching Jewish television.  (I also loved a quick, ten minute documentary that showed a group of police officers lighting a hanukiyah together in their station.)
• Live broadcasts as needed.  In the event of breaking news and important events, the Israeli Network is prepared to broadcast live coverage from Israel.  Also, worth noting are the ”pseudo-live” events; the station recently broadcast a telethon (Sherutrom) to benefit IDF personnel.  Displaying a phone number on the screen for making pledges (along with a scrolling ticker at the top of the screen, listing names of contributors) made me feel like I was watching an Israeli version of the Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon.
• The commercials define a new kind of market.  Ironically, one of my favorite parts of each show is the commercials!  Through advertising on the station, I have learned about restaurants and grocery stores in South Florida (where I live) that I had never heard of before, as well as similar establishments across the U.S. 
• The opportunity for locally produced broadcasts. The station’s website states that they hope to produce a new program, called “Mahadurat HaShevet” (translated as “The Tribe Edition” – it’s a play on words of “Mahadurat Shabbat“, the Sabbath edition of a newspaper or program).  The program would feature video clips produced in the U.S. by Hebrew speakers.  If this program idea really took off, it could possibly foster a new sense of cohesion throughout the Hebrew speaking community.
• A major distribution outlet (Dish TV).  Compare this to the “Internet broadcasters” (like the Jewish Television Network, which also produces some shows for public television) that provide a completely different kind of viewing experience.  I have heard the argument that, with the advent of video distribution on the Internet, traditional cable and satellite broadcasting will soon be obsolete.  While could accept this as a possibility in the long term (i.e. within a decade or two), I doubt that anything will replace a “real TV experience” during the next few years.  Indeed, the introduction of high definition television (HDTV) across the United States will only serve to draw viewers into an even closer bond with their cable and satellite television providers.
• The possibility of an international Jewish TV channel.  The YNet website reported last year that the Israeli Network has begun operations in France.  If it continues to expand across multiple countries, this network will truly constitute the first global Jewish television outlet.