RGE Group (abbreviated from Recanati Giladi Entertainment, previously known as Aviv Giladi Holdings and United Media Group or UMG)[2] is an Israeli media company that owns several television channels. The company is owned by the Recanati family through the Naftali Group,[3] with the Keshet Media Group holding a 25% minority stake.[4][5]
The company operates out of a complex in western Herzliya.
History
Recanati Giladi Entertainment, initially known as Aviv Giladi Holdings or United Media Group (UMG), was established on 10 March 1999.[6] At the time, Giladi held a 25% stake in JCS Sports, which ran the Sports Channel, and a 2.5% stake in Taya Communications, which owned Noga Communications.[7] On 26 August 1999, Giladi purchased a 25% stake in Ananey Communications.[8]
On 26 November 2000, Giladi purchased Noga Communications for US$3.8 million.[9] On 29 June 2004, Avgal Media and Communications, another one of Giladi's companies, was merged into UMG.[10] The next day, Udi Recanati, formerly a shareholder in an Israeli investment firm, purchased a 20% stake in UMG for US$3.2 million.[11]
On 22 March 2004, UMG bought a majority share in JCS Sports,[12] before becoming the company's sole shareholder on 29 November 2006.[13]
On 27 September 2004, Giladi and Recanati announced that Noga Communications would seek a franchise over channel 2[14] under the name Noga 2.[15] On 10 November, Noga 2's bid was merged with that of Reshet, with Giladi and Recanati buying Yedioth Ahronoth's stake in Reshet.[16] On 13 April 2005, Reshet and Noga's joint bid was chosen, alongside Keshet Media Group, to manage channel 2.[17]
On 20 September 2006, UMG was renamed RGE, short for Recanati Giladi Entertainment, after its two owners.[18]
On 17 June 2008, Russian billionaire Len Blavatnik purchased a 20% stake in RGE, through Access Industries.[19] In 2010, Access Industries increased its ownership from 20% to 33%.[20]
On 25 April 2010, RGE sold its shares in Reshet to Fular communications for 1ILS.[21]
In December 2012, HOT decided to end Noga's franchise over Channel 8, which was instead given to Haim Sloski Productions.[22]
In May 2015, RGE purchased a 51% stake in Channel 10.[23] In 2016, Or Ram and Yaron Segev became RGE's CEOs, with their appointment becoming official in Late 2018.[24]
On 1 February 2017, RGE submitted a bid to the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council for the right to operate the Knesset Channel.[25] On 4 May, the council announced that it would award the right to operate the channel to Channel 20,[26] before disqualifying its bid in December due to issues with the bid's finances.[27] On 31 May 2018, the Council chose to accept RGE's bid instead.[28] RGE took over management of the channel from Hevrat HaHadashot on 1 August.[29]
On 4 July 2018, Channel 10 signed a merger agreement with Channel 13.[30] The merger went into effect on 16 January 2019.[31]
In October 2019, Aviv Giladi sold his shares in RGE to Len Blavatnik, leading to Blavatnik and the Recanati family owning equal stakes in the company.[32] On 24 January 2021, the Recanati family bought Blavatnik's shares in the company. Blavatnik retained his shares in Channel 13, which became separate from RGE.[33]
On 18 March 2021, Keshet announced its intention to buy a 49% stake in RGE and develop a joint streaming service with the company.[34][35] On 2 September, the Israel Competition Authority approved the development of a joint streaming service, but only allowed Keshet to purchase a 25% stake in RGE.[4][5] On 14 February 2022, the streaming service's name was revealed to be FreeTV.[36] On 20 March, RGE announced that FreeTV will cooperate with Partner Communications Company.[37]
In April 2021, RGE subsidiary Noga Communications partnered[38] with Candle Media subsidiary,[39] UK-based Moonbug Entertainment to launch its Moonbug Kids channel on RGE's on-demand platform BIGI.[38]
In July 2023, Or Ram announced his retirement, leaving Yaron Segev as the company's sole CEO.[40]
