Kan 11 Reality Debut 'Double the Money' Ends in Historic 2% Rating Low
Kan 11's debut reality show "Double the Money" concluded with a historic low rating of 2%, sparking public criticism over massive public investments in production costs.
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, known as Kan 11, has faced a severe disappointment following its first venture into reality television with the show "Double the Money" (Double on the Money), which concluded with historic low viewership ratings and sparked significant public debate regarding the massive financial investment of taxpayer funds.
Disappointing Ratings and Production Costs
Financial reports reveal a grim picture: the production cost of each individual episode reached hundreds of thousands of shekels, accumulating into a multi-million-shekel investment over the entire season funded by the public purse. Conversely, viewership figures plummeted sharply, with the season finale recording a meager 2% rating—the lowest ever for a reality TV finale in Israeli television history—while the season average stood at just 2.8%.
The show was led by popular Israeli actress Agam Rodberg, who took on a prominent prime-time hosting role. Despite her extensive screen experience and widespread popularity, her talent was ultimately unable to attract viewers to the screen or rescue the format from its dismal ratings.
Contrast with Past Successes
The sharp failure stands out particularly against the backdrop of Kan 11's major successes in other genres over recent years. The public broadcaster has repeatedly proven its ability to produce major hits that generate impressive viewership, social media buzz, and even international acclaim, ranging from acclaimed drama and comedy series such as "Checkout", "Tehran", and "Manayek", to popular docu-reality and quiz shows like "Come Dine with Me" and "The Chase", which consistently attract millions of digital views.
The Israeli version is based on the British format "Double the Money" broadcast on Channel 4, in which contestants receive an initial modest sum of 250 pounds and must double it at each stage through creative business ventures. However, the original British program failed to become a major hit, lasting only a single season, which raises further questions regarding the decision to import this specific format to Israel.
