Geula Even, the anchor of an early evening news show on Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBC), was told during a live broadcast that her current show would be her last.
The broadcaster, which is being replaced by a new “streamlined” public broadcaster, was ordered to cease operations ahead of the expected schedule, anchors said.
“We are now getting breaking news, a statement in parliament,” Ms Even said, before trailing off.
“Actually, tonight will be out last news program,” she said, “so the rest of the program is irrelevant.”
“This has been my professional home for many years. I had a lot of difficult moments, but a lot of great ones,” she said, biting her lip.
Haaretz newspaper's online edition said David Hahn, the official receiver appointed to oversee the breakup, had ordered IBA broadcasts to cease from Wednesday morning with Channel One completely off-air and the various public radio channels playing only music.
There was no official statement and it was unclear at exactly what time normal transmissions would end.
The anchor of the flagship 'Mabat' (Look) evening newscast choked back tears as she presented its final broadcast after 49 years on Channel One.
Reporters, presenters and analysts on the popular show packed onto the set complaining bitterly that they had been given no advance notice and no opportunity to put together a dignified farewell edition.
They sang 'Hatikvah' (The Hope), Israel's national anthem, as several staff shed tears on set.
"They are not giving us the opportunity to say farewell properly. They didn't give us the chance to say thank you to all the people here in the studio," said normally restrained presenter and commentator Yaakov Ahimeir.
Staff crowded the set on the main news show's final broadcast. Source: Channel 1 Israel
"It's awful. They tell you two hours before the broadcast that this is the last Mabat?"
Speaking in a voice thick with emotion, main anchor Michal Rabinowitz said: "It's happening sooner than we expected."
Haaretz said that about 500 IBA staff would start work at the new corporation on Thursday ahead of its inauguration on Monday.
The reform plan had sparked a fierce political battle over control of the media, pitting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against members of his own cabinet.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem, 07 May 2017. Source: EPA/Oded Balilty / POOL
Netanyahu initially supported the scheme but then turned against it.
Detractors say he backtracked after becoming convinced the new body would include journalists he sees as biased against him.
At one point, Netanyahu reportedly threatened to dissolve the government and call for elections unless the new corporation was scrapped before its scheduled start.
A compromise was said to have been reached later that would allow the new corporation to move forward as planned, while including a series of changes sought by Netanyahu.
The changeover had been due to take place on April 30 but a stormy late night Knesset session last week pushed back the deadline to May 15.
- with AFP
