Solidarity for Media Freedom Requests Stop of Discrimination of Certain Media Outlets

Nata Dzvelishvili

Media Union Solidarity for Media Freedom circulated a Petition and accused the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC) in putting pressure on TV-broadcasters.  Media Union members believe that instead of regulating frequencies the GNCC has developed into a mechanism of putting pressure on televisions. “Due to permanent pressure from it (GNCC), local independent broadcasters are unable to compete with government-controlled national broadcasters,” the Petition says and stresses that the Commission operates with double standards.

“It never shows interest to the broadcasters that serve the government, although actively puts pressure on free broadcasters.”
As an example of pressure the Media Union members claim the fact of fining of Trialeti TV (Gori) by the GNCC for using frequencies illegally and state that the GNCC has not presented a substantiated reason for making such a decision.

“Media Union requests the GNCC to check in presence of journalists and experts the broadcasting of Trialeti via licensed frequencies!” –Petition reads.

Media Union also believes that the 9th Channel is also under pressure from the government.  According to the Petition those cable network operators which potentially may rebroadcast the 9th Channel are also being threatened.  The special attack was taken at the Global Contact Consulting LLC.

Media Union believes that the Georgian National Commission for Communications plays an important role in the campaign launched against Global TV as “it puts restrictions on the cable network operation without any legal basis and authority and forces it to exclude popular foreign channels from its service package.”

Media Union Solidarity for Media Freedom requests stop of pressure on free media, stop of discrimination of certain media outlets.

Media Union members will send the Petition to the Embassies accredited in Georgia.  Before that the Petition signatories will hold a rally in front of the GNCC building at 2 p.m. 12 April. 

media.ge