Herzliya Studios
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn Israeli film and television production and broadcasting-services company based in Herzliya.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Herzliya Studios is an Israeli film and television production company whose activities span content development, studio production, broadcasting, post-production, outside-broadcast services, archiving, translation, and international format activity. Based in Herzliya, the company developed from the ambitions of Margot Klausner, a pioneer of Hebrew and Israeli theatre and cinema who sought to create a permanent industrial base for filmmaking in Israel. Its corporate origins trace to the production company Ohrim, established by Klausner and her husband Yehoshua Brandstatter in 1933, and to the later Israeli Film Studios enterprise. The Herzliya studio complex was established after Klausner and Brandstatter leased land in Herzliya in 1949. Construction began with a cornerstone ceremony on July 3 of that year, while Klausner raised money and imported production equipment from abroad. The project was financially difficult: construction costs, equipment purchases, debt, and disagreements among the original partners placed pressure on the business. Klausner ultimately bought out the partners who wanted to withdraw and continued as the principal shareholder and manager. The first construction phase was completed in 1951. Before the facilities were fully finished, the company produced documentaries including The First Pioneers and The Tent City, both of which reached European and American cinema audiences and were shown at the Cannes and Venice film festivals respectively. The studio then moved into feature production, producing or participating in films such as Stone on Every Mill and Hill 24 Doesn't Answer. In 1957, Israeli Film Studios joined with Carmel Newsreel in the Carmel-Herzliya partnership, combining production resources and reducing the cost pressures affecting newsreel production. Herzliya Studios gradually expanded from film into television. It produced notable Israeli cinema during the 1960s and 1970s, including Sallah Shabati, while also investing in television and broadcast infrastructure. Itzik Kol became chief executive in 1967 and persuaded Klausner to invest in television-broadcasting equipment. During the Yom Kippur War, the equipment was used as a hub for satellite feeds serving television networks internationally. The company added color-production and color-broadcasting capabilities in 1973. In 1978, Kol merged Herzliya Studios with Givatayim Studios to create United Studios, which became one of Israel's leading production companies for television and film. The business continued to modernize through changes in broadcast technology and regulation. It moved to the PAL standard in 1983, installed Sony digital cameras and routing systems in 1995, and launched Israel's first digital broadcast truck in 2000, later upgrading that capability for high-definition production. The company also operated facilities in Ra'anana and provided studio space for television broadcasters, including Reshet, which established a central broadcast studio in the Herzliya building in 1994 and left in 2006. Herzliya Studios now operates as a full-service media production organization. Its capabilities include development and production of news, talk, current-affairs, entertainment, reality, drama, game, children's, documentary, animation, and commercial content; nine television studios; editing and audio rooms; broadcast trucks; production crews; subtitling and translation; online and mobile content; and an archive of recordings from Israel's early television decades. It also operates or manages facilities connected with former competitor G.G. Israel Studios in Neve Ilan and provides studios for major Israeli broadcasters. The company has pursued a long-term relocation from its original Herzliya site to a planned media city near Kfar Saba, reflecting the redevelopment pressure on the historic complex and the need for larger, modern production facilities.
History
Herzliya Studios grew out of Margot Klausner's effort to establish an enduring Israeli film industry. In 1933, Klausner and Yehoshua Brandstatter founded Ohrim, whose first film, To a New Life, was made in Israel. Klausner later pursued a larger studio project in Herzliya. In 1949, the couple leased a 72-acre site from the Jewish National Fund, and the studios' cornerstone was laid on July 3. Financing came from Klausner's inheritance and outside investors, while imported equipment supplied the technical foundation for production. The construction project was troubled by debt and partner disagreement. Klausner later recalled that the financial burden was severe, and some partners wanted either to be bought out or to dissolve the venture. She acquired their interests and continued the project. The first construction phase was completed in 1951, after which the company produced documentaries and expanded into feature films. The First Pioneers reached the Cannes Film Festival, while The Tent City was shown at Venice; both also circulated commercially outside Israel. The company subsequently worked on Two Thousand Years and Three More and produced short films such as Harvest in Galilee and Full Moon. Its first feature-length productions included Stone on Every Mill and Hill 24 Doesn't Answer. In 1957, Israeli Film Studios combined with Carmel Newsreel in the Carmel-Herzliya partnership. The arrangement addressed the economic problems of newsreel production and created a broader production base. The Herzliya operation remained involved in Israeli cinema, including the 1963 production of Sallah Shabati and later films made during the 1960s and 1970s. At the same time, television became increasingly important. Itzik Kol was appointed chief executive in 1967, and his advocacy led Klausner to invest in television-broadcasting equipment. During the Yom Kippur War, the company's broadcast resources supported satellite transmission for international television networks. The 1970s marked a decisive move toward television. Color filming and broadcasting were introduced in 1973, while the studios continued film production and supplied facilities for a widening range of programs. In 1978, Kol merged Herzliya Studios with Givatayim Studios, forming United Studios. Under Kol, the combined organization became Israel's largest production company for television programs and films, according to the cited reference material. The following decades brought technical and corporate challenges. The studios adopted PAL broadcasting in 1983. United Studios later experienced financial difficulties connected with investments made in anticipation of Channel 2 and disputes among shareholders. A sale to investors followed, and a proposed purchase by Menachem Golan was not completed. Reshet established a central broadcast studio at the Herzliya complex in 1994, remaining there until 2006. Digital cameras and routing systems were installed in 1995, and a digital broadcast truck was introduced in 2000 and upgraded to high definition about a decade later. Additional facilities opened at the Te'el Center in Ra'anana in 2002, although that operation later closed. The original Herzliya site has faced redevelopment pressure. In 2007, the owners agreed in principle to sell the complex for residential development in exchange for participation in the resulting apartment project. The transaction was delayed by planning approvals and the search for a replacement site. Herzliya Studios acquired land near Kfar Saba in 2016. A new media-city plan was approved in 2019, providing for approximately 25,000 square meters of studios, offices, and educational facilities. The residential redevelopment deal for the old site was finalized in 2020, and excavation and foundation work for the new media city began that year. Today, the company combines content creation with technical media services. Its activities include development and production of news, current affairs, talk, entertainment, reality, drama, game, children's, documentary, animation, and advertising content. The organization operates studio stages, editing suites, audio facilities, broadcast trucks, crews, online-content capabilities, international sales and format-development operations, and a historical television archive. It has also operated facilities associated with G.G. Israel Studios in Neve Ilan and supplied studios for Israeli broadcasters including Keshet, Reshet, and Kan.
- 2020
Relocation construction begins
[1]Approvals for excavation and foundations allow construction of the planned Kfar Saba media city to commence.
- 2019
New media-city plan is approved
[1]Planning approval is granted for a new complex with studios, offices, and a vocational school.
- 2016
Land near Kfar Saba is acquired
[1]The company acquires an approximately 8.5-acre site through a Kfar Saba municipal tender.
- 2002
Ra'anana facilities open
[1]United Studios Herzliya establishes additional studio and office facilities at the Te'el Center in Ra'anana.
- 2000
Digital broadcast truck is launched
[1]The company introduces Israel's first digital broadcast truck.
- 1994
Reshet establishes a central studio
[1]Channel 2 licensee Reshet establishes its central broadcast studio at the Herzliya complex.
- 1983
PAL broadcasting standard is adopted
[1]The company transitions its broadcasting operations to PAL.
- 1978
United Studios is created
[1]Herzliya Studios merges with Givatayim Studios under the United Studios name.
- 1973
Color production and broadcasting are added
[1]The studios upgrade to color filming and broadcasting capabilities.
- 1967
Itzik Kol becomes chief executive
[1]Kol takes leadership and promotes investment in television broadcasting equipment.
Products and positioning
A full-service Israeli screen-media production and technical-services company combining studio infrastructure, original content development, broadcast operations, post-production, and international television activity.
Film production · 1933
Film production
Herzliya Studios originated as a film-production enterprise and produced documentaries, short films, and feature films. Early work included The First Pioneers, The Tent City, Stone on Every Mill, and Hill 24 Doesn't Answer. The company also participated in important Israeli productions such as Sallah Shabati and continued feature work after shifting its principal emphasis toward television.
Television production · 1967
Television production
The company develops and produces a broad range of television content, including news, current affairs, talk, variety, reality, drama, game, children's, youth, documentary, animation, and commercial programming. Productions associated with the studios include Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Wonderful Country, PoliShuk, Galileo, and other Israeli series and programs.
Broadcast infrastructure · 1967
Studio and broadcast services
Herzliya Studios operates television studios, control rooms, editing facilities, audio rooms, production offices, sets, props, broadcast trucks, and multi-camera crews. These resources support both recorded programs and live broadcasts, including work for major Israeli broadcasters.
Post-production · 1995
Post-production and technical services
Its post-production operation includes digital editing suites for standard-definition and high-definition television, sound services, audio support, routing, and related broadcast operations. The company also provides translation and subtitling and maintains technical staff for productions requiring integrated studio and post-production workflows.
International television formats
International formats and content services
The international department promotes original productions, sells and distributes content, develops adaptations of foreign formats for Israeli production, and supports collaborations and services for international media companies. Formats associated with the company include Share or Dare, Who's Asking?, Push Up, Can You Face It, House Call, Shuttle Battle, Dress Up, and The Hitchhiker.
Brand decisions
2019
Approval of a new Kfar Saba media cityStrategyBackground
Redevelopment pressure on the historic Herzliya complex and the need for modern facilities prompted a relocation plan.
Action taken
Planning approval was granted for a media complex containing television studios, production offices, and a media-related vocational school.
Aftermath
The project moved into implementation, with excavation and foundation work beginning in 2020.
Planned investment. Approximately 150 million Israeli shekels (2019 plan approval)
2000
Launch of digital outside-broadcast capabilityStrategyBackground
Broadcast production was moving from analog workflows toward digital systems.
Action taken
The company launched Israel's first digital broadcast truck and subsequently upgraded it for high-definition work.
Aftermath
The investment strengthened the company's ability to support live and multi-camera productions.
1978
Merger with Givatayim StudiosM&ABackground
The company was seeking greater scale as television and film production expanded in Israel.
Action taken
Herzliya Studios was merged with Givatayim Studios to form United Studios, led by Itzik Kol.
Aftermath
The combined organization became a major Israeli production company for television programs and films.
Sources1 sources
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