Israel’s Keshet and HOT in Commercial Spat Over Copyright Infringement (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Keshet Media Group, one of Israel’s largest private media companies with scripted hits such as “Prisoners of War” and “When Heroes Fly,” is threatening to sue Israeli pay-TV powerhouse HOT for allegedly infringing its copyright by broadcasting Keshet content on its streaming service.

Keshet and HOT previously had two deals in place that allowed for Keshet content, including its flagship channel Keshet 12 (Israel’s leading commercial network), to be available to HOT subscribers on linear, VOD and streaming platform Next TV.

Keshet says it reached out to HOT to renegotiate these deals, but to no avail. The agreements expired on March 31 and were extended until April 3.

In a legal document obtained by Variety, Keshet says HOT is no longer allowed to broadcast its content outside linear. Contacted by Variety, a spokesperson for HOT says both parties had begun negotiating the renewal of those deals — which led to the three-day extension of the agreement — but talks fell off after Keshet asked for “exorbitant charges.” “Keshet is engaging in monopolistic practices within the commercial channels industry, which violates both the Communications and Competition Law.