Communication Commission Imposed Fines of 2 500 GEL on Rustavi 2 and Imedi TV

Georgian National Communication Commission (GNCC) satisfied the suit of the Studio Monitor against Georgian TV-Companies Rustavi 2 and Imedi-TV. The commission acknowledged violation of the Article 64 of the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting by the TV-Companies and imposed fines of 2 500 GEL on each TV-station.

Commission representative Kakhi Kurashvili said the commission made the decision unanimously. He said the TV-Companies shall pay the fine within 30 days. “In addition, the TV-Companies shall comply their activities with the requirements of the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting and release the advertisements according to the required time-schedule,” said Kurashvili.

Studio Monitor monitored the compliance of the TV-Companies Rustavi 2 and Imedi-TV with the requirements of the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting (regulation about advertisement, sponsorship and TV-shopping) in 2009 and 2010.

“The monitoring revealed several violations and the Studio informed the Georgian National Communication Commission about them. On December 24, 2010 the Commission gave a notice to the TV-Companies.

On March 7, 2011 Studio Monitor appealed to the GNCC again. This time, the license-holders breached Article 64 Part IV-d of the Law on Broadcasting – Teleshopping and advertisements shall not interrupt news, current affairs, religious, election debate programs and documentary films with a duration less than 30 minutes; Article 64 Part IX – News, current affairs and political debate programs may be interrupted with advertisements or teleshopping no more than every 15 minutes and no more than for 120 seconds; Article 64 Part VIII - Educational-scientific, children’s and religious programs may be interrupted with advertisements or teleshopping no more than every 15 minutes and no more than for 45 seconds.

Head of Studio Monitor Nino Zuriashvili said they have filed the third complaint to the Commission; though the Commission unified it with the second complaint and decided to fine the TV-Companies as a result.

Video-recording of the Commission judgment
 

Information Center of Kakheti