The parliamentary Budget and Finance Committee has supported the legislative changes to the Law on Broadcasting, taking its remarks into account, through the first hearing. The session was held today.According to Chairman of the Committee Irakli Kovzanadze, the Budget and Finance Committee has same remarks regarding the project. He says that the organization's activities should be remained within the scope of Budget Code.The presented project of amendments envisages separation of authorities and duties of General Director of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) and Board of Trustees. Changes also refer to commercial advertising and sponsorship. According to the initiative, sponsorship of entertainment programs, international competitions, festivals and TV series are allowed.Amendments apply to purchasing as well. According to the existing regulations, the broadcaster carries out all types of purchases in accordance with the law on state procurement; according to the initiated amendments, the regulations should not apply to the purchasing of products such as programs, feature and documentary films.

Georgia’s representative of 2017 Junior Eurovision Song Contest (JESC) will become known on September 8. The special jury will reveal the participant. Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) announced the national competition for selection of 2017 JESC contender on July 17. Children aged 9-14 could apply with the song from their own repertoire. Open hearing of contenders will take place at pavilion of First Channel. The jury includes producer Zaza Shengelia, singer Maia Baratashvili, musician Davit Evgenidze, from GPB - musical editor - Eliso Shengelia and voice director - Giorgi Asanishvili. A new song will be composed for Georgian contender of 2017. Georgia is hosting 2017 JESC. The contest will be held on November 26 at Tbilisi Olympic Palace. 

The Executive Council of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) releases a statement regarding arrival of Mike Pence, Vice President of United States in Georgia on July 31 with 2-day visit.The statement reads that the visit of US Vice-President and his spouse is very important for the country, GPB will ensure live transmission of all planned meetings and is ready to provide free-of-charge signal to all broadcasters. Interested organizations should apply to technical service of GPB. 

Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) did not violate the Law on Broadcasting and video clip aired by the Broadcaster is a Public Service Announcement (PSA). This is the decision made by the Georgian National Communications Regulation Commission (GNERC).The claimant side has not attended the session today. The members of Free Democrats and the Republicans had submitted the complaint to the National Communications Regulation Commission (GNERC).The case concerned to Public Service Announcement about the constitutional amendments. The claimants argued that the video was not the PSA as it was representing the interests of ruling team; however Commission has not shared their position.

The presentation of Georgian Public Broadcaster's plan on material-technical refurbishment for media representatives will be held.Journalists will have opportunity to receive detailed information about the projects, which is planned to be implemented during 2017-2020 and which aims at introduction of technologies relevant to modern standards in the Public Broadcaster.The presentation will be held at the first studio of the Broadcaster at 11:30, on July 4.On June 29,  the Board of Trustees of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) unanimously approved the Broadcaster's long-term material-technical refurbishment plan.

The Board of Trustees of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) unanimously approved the Broadcaster's long-term material-technical refurbishment plan.According tp Vasil Maghlaperidze, the General Director of GPB, a special group is working on technical refurbishment issues and the projects will be implemented in 2017-2020.Maghlaperidze  says that in 2017, about 15-18 million USD will be spent for technical renovation.At the sitting, Teona Mazmishvili, Director of the Production and Technical Maintenance Division, has presented the project plan for 2017-2020. According to Mazmishvili the goal of technical re-equipment is to develop technologies relevant to modern standards.

The management of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) is holding a meeting with the creative groups of the winner programs for the new TV season at the press club. Vasil Maghlaperidze, the General Director of GPB congratulated the winners and noted that the active preparatory works will be started. Maglaperidze promised the authors of the programs to conduct technical refurbishment of the channel and noted that a unified web platform will be established.The contracts with the new programs will be signed in September, and the contracts for the current winner programs will be prolonged. On June 21, the competition commission revealed the best projects within the framework of a competition for selection of new programs to be aired on Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) starting the new broadcast season.  The commission selected 9 projects. The competition for selection of new programs for 2017-2018 broadcast programming was announced on April 3. 

Akaki Gigineishvili, Giorgi Iakobashvili and Lela Piralishvili are presented as candidates for post of members of Board of Trustees at Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB). The parliament will have to approve one person out of the three candidates. The selection commission listened to the candidates on June 22. Discussions were aired by First Channel of GPB. 

The competition commission today revealed the best projects within the framework of a competition for selection of new programs to be aired on Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) starting the new broadcast season.  The commission selected 9 projects. The competition for selection of new programs for 2017-2018 broadcast programming was announced on April 3. 

The pavilion of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) is presented at Rustaveli Avenue. “What united us –This is Public Broadcaster” – various programs will be aired live. Any interested person will have the opportunity to participate in live coverage. At the initiative of GPB, the first vides record of "Knight in the Panther’s Skin” a poem by Shota Rustaveli will be made for publication of a video book. 

The jury of a competition announced for selection of scenarios for TV series at Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) revealed two winners. The scenario “Vacancy on Post of Murderer” of Ilia Jibghashvili and Beso Solomonashvili won in thriller genre. The scenario “Swaying” of Basa Janikashvili and Sandro Jandieri won in melodrama genre. Fifteen scenarios qualified for the second round of the competition out of 45 applications. The 8-member jury revealed the best ones. The commission will now apply to Vasil Maghlaperidze, General Director of GPB for implementation of these projects. 

The first stage of the competition announced by the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) has been completed, which means the selection of feature series scripts for 2017-2018 season.A total of 45 script applications have been received.Competitors moved to the second stage are:Detective:1. Tamar Adorneli  "Ali Khan and Nino"2. Malkhaz Aslamazashvili  "Chameleon’s Color"3. Ilia Jibghashvili, Beso Solomonashvili  "Vacancy for Murder Position"4. Luka Tsuladze, Tengiz Astakhishvili "On the Bottom"5. Giorgi Barabadze "Boys from Komarov"6. Irakli Apakidze, Levan Kitia "Zebra"7. Alexandre Kurkhuli, Beka Kurkhuli, Levan Kitia "Coffee Beer"8. Giorgi Kobalia, Giga Baindurashvili "Private Detective"9. Nana Khatiashvili "Deduction Method"10. Tamar Adorneli  "Family Secret"Drama: 1. Otar Shamatava "TAFU"2. Koba Tskhakaia, Soso Mchedlishvili "Burdo"3. Sandro Jandieri, Basa Janikashvili "Waving"4. Tengiz Tkhilava, Beka Oniani, Irakli Apakidze, Levan Kitia "Under your Bed"5. Akaki Kipshidze, Murtaz Chikovani "Temporarily employed"Eight member commissions will conduct interviews with the competitors on 22-23 May, after which two winners will be revealed.

The Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) will be airing all matches of 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship hosted by Georgia from May 31 to June 18. All the 30 matches will be broadcast live at Tbilisi and Kutaisi stadiums. The Georgian team will compete among the 12 best contending ones. 

Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) prolonged  deadline for selecting programs and feature series scripts for a new broadcast season.Within the framework of a competition announced by GPB a total of 153 program applications and 45 script applications have been received. Due to a large number of applications, commission decided to extend the term for making final decision in order to give the commission members opportunity to study each application in detail.Information about the date of announcing the decision will be published on GPB website in the nearest future.The competition was open from April 3 to April 25. The programs will be selected by a 12-member commission headed by Paata Kurdadze, Direction of Media Production of GPB. The commission is staffed by invited experts and employees of GPB. 

The visit of delegation of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues in Tbilisi. Experts of foreign Media are meeting with representatives of Georgian media organizations. Establishment of Media Ombudsman’s Institute is the main topic for discussions. 

Receipt of applications within the framework of a competition announced by Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) for selection of programs for the new broadcast season is over. A total of 153 applications are received. The applicants submitted them for 9 programs in 5 directions. The competition was open from April 3 to April 25. The programs will be selected by a 12-member commission headed by Paata Kurdadze, Direction of Media Production of GPB. The commission is staffed by invited experts and employees of GPB. Those applicants, who qualify for the second round of competition, will hold presentations in May. The third tour envisages preparation of pilot programs. The best projects will be revealed in the beginning of June, 2017. 

Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) does not limit airing of parliamentary sessions and committee sittings to private TV Companies but allows them to broadcast them free-of-charge with use of GPB logo/trademark. GPB released an official statement in response to the allegations voiced during the bureau sitting by members of the parliamentary opposition. “GPB will allow all media outlets to access its video material with its logo in the future,” reads the statement. 

Founders of Rustavi 2 TV Company Davit Dvali and Jarji Akimidze say that Rustavi 2 web-page domain rustavi2.com belongs to them. The founders released a statement through social network which reads the following: “Starting today we stop charity activities and will attempt to balance the strong flow of propaganda and misinformation. In 2004 when national movement authorities forced us to cede 60% shares of TV Company, they forgot that the domain was a separate property and continued using the internet resource. The authorities did not even become interested who covered expenses for use of the domain for 13 years,” says the statement. 

Rustavi 2 TV Company responded the statement released by TV Company founders Davit Dvali and Jarji Akimidze regarding use of company’s web-page domain. “The founders, without any warning, cut off the online platform and thousands of users who watched out programs through internet are now left without information. Technical works are ongoing,” reads the statement. Founders of Rustavi 2 TV Company Davit Dvali and Jarji Akimidze say that Rustavi 2 web-page domain rustavi2.com belongs to them. 

The competition for selection of 9 new programs for new broadcasting season at Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) will begin starting April 3. The competition will proceed into three stages. The selection commission is already staffed by 12 members and will be chaired by journalist and writer Paata Kurdadze.The commission, staffed by GPB representatives and 4 foreign experts, held the first sitting today and talked about criteria for selection of new programs.