Rising Star (Israeli TV series)
HaKokhav HaBa is an Israeli interactive reality singing competition, created by Keshet Media Group and broadcast on Channel 2 and on Channel 12. It is the basis of the [Rising Star |Rising Star franchise]. The show is a continuation of Kokhav Nolad which featured aspiring singers competing for a winning title. The program's format combines the internet, smartphone and television and is filmed live. Between 2015 and 2020, and again since 2024, the show has been used to select for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Format
As the season begins, each contestant is asked to perform a well-known song in front of judges. After the song, a vote is taken among judges whether to transfer the applicant to the test stage facing the audience at home. If the judges are not sure about how to vote, the contestant is required to perform another song, and then a decision is made.Contestants who do move forward must then sing in front of an audience. Viewers then connect with an app at makoTV and decide in real time whether a contestant passes or does not pass.
Judges also influence the test stage - all judges may support the promotion of the contestant and thereby add 8% percent if there are five judges or 10% if there are four. Once the contestant reaches 70% of votes they "pass" and the screen opens and the contestant goes to the next level. 14 singers then move on to a section where the judges and the audience at home vote. At the final stage, four singers are left and one will be elected "The Next Star".
Hosts and judges
Key:Main Guest Contestant
Series overview
Season 1 (2013)
This first season of Rising Star was hosted by Assi Azar with co-host Esti Ginzburg. The judges were Rita Jahan-Farouz, Zvika Hadar, Mooki and Rani Rahav. Eyal Golan judged the program until his suspension on 20 November 2013, when he was replaced by Mooki.Participants
In order:- George Abu Shakra - 14th place
- Dondit Jon - 13th place
- Alon Tube - 12th place
- Roni Israeli - 11th place
- Lior Peretz - 10th place
- Hen Levy - 9th place
- Inbal Bekman - 8th place
- Elias Melayev - 7th place
- David Drey - 6th place
- Omer Datz† - '''5th place'''
Finalists
- Rinat Cohen - Fourth place
- Tina Ibagrimov - Third place
- Arye & Gil Gat - Second place
- Evyatar Korkus - '''Winner'''
Season 2 (2014–15)
Participants
In order:- Evyatar Adir - 16th place
- Zadok Garamech - 15th place
- Almog Nasawi - 14th place
- Random Dogs - 13th place
- David Maman - 12th place
- Eva Al Kanrash - 11th place
- Asif Zilberman - 10th place
- Liroz Balas - 9th place
- Yifi and Osher Aricha - 8th place
- Nava Tehila Walker - 7th place
- Saar "Rusty" Davidov - 6th place
- Orit Biansey - '''5th place'''
Finalists
- Avia Shoshani - Fourth place
- Sary Nachmias - Third place
- Iky Levy and the Rasta Hebrew Men - Second place
- Nadav Guedj - '''Winner'''
Season 3 (2015–16)
The winner of season three would represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.
Participants
In order:- Alma Kalbermann - 16th place
- Maya Bernadski - 15th place
- Sharon Fartouk - 14th place
- Yoni Grayev - 13th place
- Avi Eliot Alush and Sister Shvakya - 12th place
- Neomi Ezran - 11th place
- Uriel Aharoni - 10th place
- Shtar - 9th place
- Ofir Haim - 8th place
- Oded Sharavi - 7th place
- "Velma" - 6th place
- Kiara Duple - '''5th place'''
Finalists
- Gil Hadash – Fourth place
- Ella Daniel - Third place
- Nofar Salman - Second place
- Hovi Star - '''Winner'''
Season 4 (2017)
Participants
In order:- Yona Shabin - 8th place
- Hally Lewis - 7th place
- Ta-La-Te - 6th place
- Sapir Nahon - '''5th place'''
Finalists
- Beatbox Element - Fourth place
- Julieta - Third place
- Diana Golbi - Second place
- Imri - '''Winner'''
Season 5 (2017–18)
Participants
In order:- Axum - 20th place
- Tal Mizrahi - 19th place
- Ofir Harush - 18th place
- Shir Baruch - 17th place
- The Choice - 16th place
- Shir Gadasi - 15th place
- Jaki Gaforov - 14th place
- Gal Yaakobi - 13th place
- Rinat Bar - 12th place
- Sarit Hativa - 11th place
- Shay & Gilad - 10th place
- José Steinberg - 9th place
- Adava Omer - 8th place
- Ravit Batashvili - 7th place
- Howie Danao - 6th place
- Eden Meiri - '''5th place'''
Finalists
- Chen Aharoni – Fourth place
- Riki Ben Ari - Third place
- Mergui - Second place
- Netta Barzilai - '''Winner'''
Season 6 (2018–19)
Participants
In order:- Wanna Wanna - 20th place
- Shachaf - 19th place
- Lior Chen - 18th place
- Naama Gali Cohen - 17th place
- Liat Eliyahu - 16th place
- Nitay Twito - 15th place
- Nave Madmon - 14th place
- Naor Cohen - 13th place
- Klara Sabag - 12th place
- Osher Biton - 11th place
- Danielle Mazuz - 10th place
- Tai† - 9th place
- Ofri Calfon - 8th place
- Daniel Barzilai - 7th place
- Avraham de Carvalho - '''6th place'''
Finalists
- Shalva Band – Fifth place; withdrew
- Maya Bouskilla – Fourth place
- Shefita - Third place
- Ketreyah - Second place
- Kobi Marimi - '''Winner'''
Season 7 (2019–20)
Participants
In order:- Or Eddie - 20th place
- Nathan Katorza - 19th place
- Dana Lapidot - 18th place
- Oneg Israel - 17th place
- HaTavlinim - 16th place
- Linoy Akala and Gil Shapira - 15th place
- Nicki Goldstein - 14th place
- Avihu Pinhasov Rhythm Club - 13th place
- Omer Eliyahu - 12th place
- Dorel Saadon - 11th place
- Eden Zohar Sivan - 10th place
- Loai Ali - 9th place
- Ohad Shragai - 8th place
- Lali Kolishkin - 7th place
- Moran Aharoni - 6th place
- Raviv Kaner - '''5th place'''
Finalists
- Gaya Shaki - Fourth place
- Orr Amrami Brockman - Third place
- Ella Lee - Second place
- Eden Alene - '''Winner'''
Season 8 (2021)
Participants
In order:- Shalev Edri - 22nd place
- Matan Agami - 21st place
- Naor Ormia - 20th place
- Niv Shaked - 19th place
- Ofri Tal - 18th place
- Ella Lavie - 17th place
- Orit Shalom - 16th place
- David Meir Ziton - 15th place
- Yotal Guez - 14th place
- Noa Yosefian - 13th place
- Mira Semenduev - 12th place
- Adar Kagan - 11th place
- Maayan Bukris - 10th place
- Lia Shaked - 9th place
- Tamar Azran - 8th place
- Dorin Hirvy - 7th place
- Sahar Twito - 6th place
- Anael Moshe - '''5th place'''
Finalists
- Shay Hamber - Fourth place
- Matan Levi - Third place
- Valerie Hamaty - Second place
- Tamir Grinberg - '''Winner'''
Season 9 (2022)
Participants
In order:- Eilon Shaltiel - 18th place
- Shiri Oren - 17th place
- Nevo Alon - 15th/16th place
- Michael Levi - 15th/16th place
- Shalom Sabag - 14th place
- Kfir Tsafrir - 13th place
- Talia Sol Azarzar - 12th place
- Zohar Yaacobi - 11th place
- Yam Gronich - 10th place
- Omer Yefet - 9th place
- Karmi Glasner - 8th place
- Yahalom David - 7th place
- Niv Demirel - 6th place
- Yanai Ben Hamo - '''5th place'''
Finalists
- Libi Panker - Fourth place
- Meitav Sherman - Third place
- Nofia Yedidia - Second place
- Eliav Zohar - '''Winner'''
Season 10 (2023–24)
Participants
- Gal Kafri - 14th place
- Yehuda Saado - 13th place
- Mika Kertis - 12th place
- Ido Bartal - 11th place
- Moria Angel - 10th place
- Jonathan Bitton - 9th place
- Orel Ravid - 8th place
- Arik Sinai - 7th place
- Lian Biran - 6th place
- Shai Tamino - '''5th place'''
Finalists
- Dor Shimon - 4th place
- Mika Moshe - 3rd place
- Or Cohen - 2nd place
- Eden Golan - '''Winner'''
Season 11 (2024–25)
Participants
- Renana Boaziza - 21st place
- Hamsa - 20th place
- Shira Knopp - 19th place
- Ori Saban - 18th place
- Perfylove Mongoza - 17th place
- Kler - 16th place
- Aviad Klein - 15th place
- Itay Paz - 14th place
- Ilay Avidani - 13th place
- Natalie Zafar - 12th place
- Alma Maimon de Razon - 11th place
- Udi Schneider - 10th place
- Nati Livian - 9th place
- Amit Sade - 8th place
- Ido Malka - 7th place
- Yuval Gold - 6th place
- Dolev Mendelbaum - '''5th place'''
Finalists
- Daniel Wais - 4th place
- Red Band & Moran Aharoni - 3rd place
- Valerie Hamaty - 2nd place
- Yuval Raphael - '''Winner'''
Season 12 (2025–26)
Participants
- Saar Hadar - 21st place
- Daniel Shevtsov - 20th place
- Ori Berko - 19th place
- Mentamer Taganya - 18th place
- Shaya Avitan - 17th place
- Stav Vaknin - 16th place
- Gilly Tsanaani - 15th place
- Portrait - 14th place
- Daniel Azar - 13th place
- Elior Shemesh - 12th place
- Eitan Aharon - 11th place
- Dorin Or - 10th place
- Tamir Levy - 9th place
- Agam Hazan - 8th place
- Nave Levi - 7th place
- Michael HarPaz - 6th place
- Shaked Solomon - '''5th place'''
Finalists
- Alona Erez - 4th place
- Shira Zloof - 3rd place
- Gal De Paz - 2nd place
- Noam Bettan - '''Winner'''
Eurovision Song Contest results
International versions
After the success of the Israeli series in 2013, many television stations throughout the world bought the rights and started broadcasting similar series.The American television network ABC began airing its first series of Rising Star in June 2014 from Los Angeles. The US edition was also carried in Canada, with advertising simultaneous substitution and voting access on CTV. The show was canceled after its full 10-episode season due to low ratings in its target demographic, and extremely low ratings on the German and French versions.
Another major broadcaster RTL Television launched a German language version in Germany. But following reported poor ratings on its early shows, it announced it was bringing Rising Star Germany scheduled final forward airing an extended one-day finale between 20.15 and 00.00 to decide the winning performer, rather than completing the full 10-episode scheduled season originally planned.
The UK ITV channel bought the rights, but canceled its scheduled launch citing lower-than-expected viewership in similar launches in the United States and Germany. Canale 5 also bought the rights to an Italian version of the show, which was also canceled during development for unexplained reasons.
French television M6, with its first season, launched in September 2014 keeping the title Rising Star. The French version had a shortened season due to low ratings. The Italian television Canale 5 launched its version as Rising Star.
Other broadcasters that adapted the series include Argentine Telefe as Elegidos , Brazilian Rede Globo as SuperStar, Chinese CCTV-3, Greek ANT1, Hungarian TV2 as Rising Star, Indonesian RCTI as Rising Star Indonesia , Portuguese Televisão Independente as Rising Star: A próxima estrela, Russia-1 as Артист , and Turkish TV8 as Yükselen Yıldız. The Russian version of the show had a shortened season due to low ratings on the French and German versions, while the Portuguese and Brazilian versions became quickly popular, but neither lasted more than three seasons; the Brazilian version ended in 2016 after three seasons due to declining viewership. The Indonesian version is the longest-running version of the show outside of Israel.