Egyptian and Syrian broadcasting services) quit as active members. The IBA provided news programming in 14 foreign languages, directed at audiences both abroad and in Israel through its IBA News programming available on the internet and through rebroadcasters. The IBA ceased to use shortwaves for its radio overseas transmissions in the mid-2000s. In 2014, the Israeli cabinet approved reforms that would see the IBA closed and a new public broadcasting body take its place. The replacement network would operate three separate television channels: a Hebrew, an Arabic, and a children's channel. As part of the reforms, the television tax levied on all Israelis who own televisions to support the IBA was to be abolished by March 2015. Eventually, the reform did not advance as originally planned and the target date was extended to 2018. Eight new national radio stations were to be created in place of the existing Kol Israel radio network. The IBA was supposed to be replaced by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC) on 1 October 2016, but the launch was postponed until the beginning of 2018. The proposed model for the IPBC had been criticized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which opposed the tying of the IPBC's finances to budgets decided upon directly by politicians and the planned absence of news services. EBU rules prescribe that a public broadcaster must provide a news service in order to qualify for membership. After several delays, the plans were changed to allow the IPBC to start its operations on 15 May 2017. Closure Two hours before the broadcast of "Mabat LaHadashot" (A Glance at the News) on 9 May 2017, the staff was informed that it would be the last show. Partial programming on Channel 1 resumed the next day, without news programs, while Channel 33 was shut down with just a slide explaining the closure in Arabic. All IBA Radio stations continued to broadcast news on the hour and music programming until 15 May. The final program shown by the IBA TV Channel 1 was the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 where Israel was a finalist. A minimal crew of twenty people had remained to ensure a smooth broadcast of the second semi-final on 11 May, with the grand final on 13 May. The program was televised on Channel 1 with no commentary and subtitles during the program for voting purposes. IBA's 88FM radio station also broadcast the