The world may not need another user-generated video portal, but it may raise an eyebrow to the one launched in alpha mode this week by the Israelis who gave the world ICQ. The IM protocol started in 1996 by Mirablis founders Nir Erlich and Sefi Visiger may now be a bit player in the IM stakes after its sale to AOL (NYSE: TWX) in ‘98 for $408 million, so now Erlich and Visiger have started Knocka.tv, what they call a “user-generated professional television network” or “UGPTN”, targeting lone producers and small indies. Not unlike Current and resembling Digg’s inner workings, video makers submit their material for inclusion in a Knocka.tv playlist, but only if they can garner enough viewer votes at the grassroots. Based in Herzliya Pituach with a staff of 30, some of whom come from Mirablis, Knocka.tv has $5 million funding behind it from Israel’s own Evergreen fund and will use advertising as a business model, but “some of its television operations may move to the United States if and when it expands”, this profile in today’s Haaretz newspaper says.