CEO of Israel's Channel 10 resigns
After news anchor Yaakov Eilon left, Channel 10 faces new crisis: CEO Yossi Varshavsky's resignation. Sources in the network say there were differences of opinion over budget. Varshavsky: I can't continue an endless struggle
Another revolution at Channel 10: CEO Yossi Varshavsky resigned Thursday over differences of opinion with the channel's board of directors. According to sources in the channel, Varshavsky's resignation comes in response to differences of opinion over the budget for this season of Rafi Reshef's current events program.
However, sources close to Varshavsky deny that this was the source of the problem. Deputy CEO Yoav Heldman, will succeed Varshavsky as chief.
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Varshavsky's decision to leave comes a month after Yaakov Eilon, anchor of the channel's main evening news program, left.
Varshavsky, 53, took the reins four years ago after 20 years in various roles with the Shoken Group. During his term as CEO, he was forced to grapple with a number of challenges, including a danger that the channel would shut down; salary cuts; shareholders who stopped the cash flow when the network recorded losses; and battles over tenders.
Outgoing Channel 10 CEO Yossi Varshavsky (Photo: Alon Aljam)
He seems to be leaving the channel in relatively good shape, though – recently Channel 10 has scored impressive ratings, beating Channel 2 a number of times in the ratings tables.
In a message to the staff of Channel 10, Varshavsky said the he had "enjoyed every moment" of his four years there.
"After four stormy years and a number of existential battles, I feel that I can no longer lead an endless struggle against a failing sector and an unbalanced regulatory structure," Varshavsky continued.
"Everyone here, first and foremost the shareholders, are doing their best to keep the channel operating. Unfortunately, the unbalanced regulation requires the tender winners to pay tens of millions of shekels, regardless of the economic reality of the television market," he said.
