The Media in Georgia is relatively accessible and caters to a wide variety of audiences. A large percentage of households have a television, and most have at least one radio. The large majority of Georgia’s media companies (including television, newspaper and radio) are headquartered in Tbilisi.

Public broadcaster

There is one media outlet in Georgia which is publicly funded: the Public Broadcasting Channel. The service broadcasts on free-to-air television and radio. Free-to-air is a phrase used to describe television and radio broadcasts which are available without subscription and without decryption (pay-TV). ...

Television

One of the most popular networks is Rustavi 2 which gained considerable fame after its coverage of the Rose Revolution. The station currently reaches around 84% of the country's population, as well as Europe, the European part of Russia and the Middle East via satellite. The station was long seen as a thorn in the side of the Eduard Shevardnadze regime, frequently reporting on corruption and human rights abuses. In 2001 a security police raid on Rustavi 2 resulted in mass street demonstrations against governments pressure - causing Eduard Shevardnadze to fire his entire cabinet. Rustavi 2 (in Georgian: რუსთავი 2) is a popular private TV Company in Georgia (country). ... Mikhail Saakashvili and his supporters marched on the parliament carrying roses as a symbol of nonviolence Rose Revolution refers to a peaceful 2003 revolution in the country of Georgia that displaced president Eduard Shevardnadze. ... Eduard Amvrosiyevich Shevardnadze (Georgian: ედუარდ შევარდნაძე, Russian: Эдуа́рд Амвро́сьевич Шевардна́дзе; pronounced ed-oo-ard am-vro-see-ye-vitch she-va-rd-nad-zuh) (born 25 January 1928) is a Georgian politician. ...

The largest competitor to Rustavi 2 comes in the form of Imedi TV. Whilst Rustavi 2 has recently been seen as a mouthpiece of the current administration, Imedi TV has found an increasingly independent voice. The station was the first to break the investigation into Sandro Girgvliani's murder, allegedly arousing anger amongst the President's administration. The station is owned in part by Badri Patarkatsishvili, a media tycoon, and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. A preliminary agreement on the purchase of Imedi Holding’s shares was signed in New York on April 28, details of which remain confidential. Badri Patarkatsishvili (b. ... Rupert Murdoch Keith Rupert Murdoch AC, KCSG, (commonly known as Rupert Murdoch) (born 11 March 1931) born in Australia of Scottish and some claim Jewish ancestry, but this is unfounded. ... News Corporation (abbreviated to News Corp) (NYSE: NWS) is one of the worlds largest media conglomerates. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ...

The final national player is Mze which was purchased by Rustavi 2 in late 2005. The channel has suffered poor ratings, and is largely expected to be turned into an entertainment network.

Press

Whilst the authorities finance some publications, there are some 200 privately-owned newspapers. Most of these are based in Tbilisi, which is home to a number of newspaper publishing houses. Some of the most noteworthy newspapers include the daily 24 Saati (24 Hours), Rezonansi (Resonance), Alia, and the English-language weekly The Georgian Times. Alia Atreides, portayed by Daniela Amavia in the Children of Dune miniseries. ...

Radio

Out of the city’s radio stations Imedi Radio (105.9FM), Fortuna, and Radio 105 are some of the more influential competitors with large national audiences. Imedi mainly concentrates on news and analytical coverage but broadcasts pop music as well, particularly at night-time.

Censorship And Freedom

According to Reporters Without Borders in 2005, Georgia is in 99th position on a list of countries ranked by Press Freedom; well behind Moldova (74th) and Mongolia (53rd) - both countries deemed to be in transition to Democracy from Communism. This ranking is primarily due to the limited diversity in media ownership, and self-censorship. However concerns over governmental censorship have emerged. Reporters Without Borders, or RWB (French: Reporters sans frontières, Spanish: Reporteros Sin Fronteras, or RSF) is an international non-governmental organisation doing research on and advocating for freedom of the press. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ...

During the Sandro Girgvliani Murder Case the influential media tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, owner of Imedi, stated that the Georgian authorities were mounting pressure on his station and other businesses after it had broadcast details of the scandal. "It is no secret that Imedi television was the first one which reported the circumstances of Sandro Girgvliani’s murder...this alone became a reason for the authorities’ dissatisfaction, which triggered the financial authorities to actively launch a probe into my businesses and my companies so [as] to force me to mount pressure against [my] journalists..and facilitate the creation of a favorable image of the authorities," Badri Patarkatsishvili went on to say that he would never yield to pressure from the authorities. Badri Patarkatsishvili (b. ...

In addition, on July 6 Eka Khoperia, an anchor with Rustavi 2, announced during her live program that she was resigning, after refusing to follow instructions from the authorities.

External links

• Public Broadcasting Channel
• Rustavi 2
• Imedi TV
• 24 Saati