Channel 1 was one of the oldest television channels in Israel and one of five terrestrial channels in the country.

The Israeli Educational Television was a state-owned public terrestrial television network which used to concentrate on producing and broadcasting programs for school children. The first Israeli children's show, featuring Kishkashta, aired on Channel 1 in the 1970s and 1980s. However, since the 1980s, IETV began to produce TV magazines and programs aimed at adults and senior citizens.