Channel 16 Expands News Team with High-Profile Appointments
Journalist Liran Levy and Dr. Itai Gal join the news staff of Channel 16. With the main news edition led by Yaakov Eilon already on air, the channel is preparing to launch its interactive AI-driven viewer feedback system, SAY16.
Channel 16 continues to strengthen its news division, announcing the addition of two seasoned media professionals, Liran Levy and Dr. Itai Gal, to its editorial team.
Liran Levy will serve as the head of the crime desk and commentator on internal security affairs. During his decade-long career at Yedioth Ahronoth, ynet, Walla, and Channel 20, he published numerous investigative reports. His exposé on the exploitation of female prison guards and the rape of a soldier at Gilboa Prison led to criminal investigations, indictments, and significant policy changes within the Israel Prison Service. In 2022, he received the Journalists Association Award for his investigative work. At Channel 16, he will lead crime coverage and develop in-depth reports.
Dr. Itai Gal joins as the channel's health correspondent. He will cover the healthcare system, hospitals, medical research, public health, and medical technology. A specialist physician and veteran journalist, Dr. Gal spent 19 years at ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, and more recently served as the health and technology correspondent for Maariv and The Jerusalem Post, as well as host of the health program "Stethoscope" on Reshet 13. He is fluent in six languages, including Arabic and French.
These additions are a key component in building Channel 16's news division. The main news edition, presented by Yaakov Eilon, is already on air, marking the start of the channel's launch phase.
A central pillar of the channel's strategy is its unique interactive model. Through an AI-based system called SAY16, viewers will be able to provide ongoing feedback and influence decisions ranging from program genres and scheduling to visual design and the overall viewing experience. A QR code for the system will be distributed upon the channel's full launch.
Channel 16's content strategy focuses on expanding the Israeli media landscape with a mix of news, current affairs, original productions, and entertainment. The channel's goal is to create a new model of Israeli television where the audience is an integral part of the creative process.
