IETV CHANNEL

The IETV channel (abbreviation of Israeli Ethiopian Television, also called the Israeli Ethiopian TV channel) is an Israeli television channel intended for the Ethiopian community in Israel that broadcasts in the Amharic and Tigrinya languages.

The channel, which appeals to approximately 150,000 Ethiopians living in Israel, began its broadcasts on January 22, 2007 (3rd Shebat 6677) and was received by viewers through the cable company ("HOT") and the satellite company ("yes") on channel 140. 70% Most of the older members of the Ethiopian community are illiterate (not even in their mother tongue), so radio and television are the only means available to them that help them deal with the authorities of the State of Israel and mediate between them and Israeli society. This channel is the only one in Israel that speaks Amharic and Tigrinya, and in times of conflict and crisis, Enters emergency mode and provides its viewers with the instructions of the Home Command and regular updates. The channel is not part of the basic viewing package of the cable and satellite channels, and viewing it involves an additional payment for a channel package. About 17,000 households of the Ethiopian tribe (out of 20,000) subscribe to the channel. The channel allows The Ethiopian community who graduated from the media department, to integrate into it: more than 90% percent of the channel's employees are Ethiopians. The channel employs 50 people - some as employees and some as freelancers. The second channel's crime reporter, Barhanu Tagnia, started his career at this channel.


 

The establishment of the channel
 

The channel was founded on the private initiative of the businessman and entrepreneur, Fasil Legsa, Amnon Rubinstein and Moshe Kurkos. Legsa was one of the founders of the Voice of Israel broadcasting in Amharic in 1984. In 1999, he founded the production company 'Pasil Dan Communications' which produced the program "Through our eyes". This program was intended for the Ethiopian community and was broadcast on Channel One and Channel Two, funded by the Ministry of Absorption. Legsa and Rubinstein were engaged in film production in Ethiopia, and after some time, they decided to establish an Israeli channel for the Ethiopian public in Israel.
 

The broadcast schedule

The channel's schedule includes direct broadcasts from the Ethiopian state channel (ETV), Hebrew programs and movies dubbed into Amharic and original productions that include studio panels, interview programs, current affairs programs and short dramas