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Media

Rise of independent media is regarded as one of the main achievements of the democratic shift in Georgia. Most experts consider development of media in Georgia to be faster than development of other civil society institutions.

Private independent media predominate in the market of printed and electronic media. As to the beginning of 2005 there are 53 TV channels operating in Georgia (including 9 CCTV channels), 17 radio stations, 120 newspapers, 38 magazines, 14 internet providers, 30 publishing houses, 29 advertising agencies, 15 information services, 40 press centers, 17 non-governmental agencies for media matters, 18 press distributors, 4 poll services working on media measurements.

The key role during the revolutionary turmoil of November 2003 played “Rustavi-2” TV channel, back then it was financed by Badri Patarkatsishvili, Georgian ticoon and opposition leader, who deceased in February 12, 2008 in his country mansion in England.

Experts say there is a considerable disproportion between press and electronic media in Georgia. A list towards the electronic media was taken first of all because of low paying capacity of the population with most of the people unable to buy press.

Press enjoys higher confidence of the audiences compared to other public and political institutions. Press market leaders are the following:

“Akhali Taoba” - E-mail:

“Akhali Versia” - www.versia-online.com

“Alia” - E-mail:

“Asaval-Dasavali”- E-mail:

“The Georgian Times” - www.times.ge

“Kviris Palitra” - www.kvirispalitra.ge

“Sakartvelos Respublika” - www.open.ge/sakartvelos-respublika

“Svobodnaya Gruzia” - www.svobodnaya-gruzia.com

“Resonance” - www.opentext.ge/resonance

“Xvalindeli Dge” - www.opentext.ge/xdge

“24 Saati” - www.24hours.ge

The high competition didn’t help the press market to become highly profitable what could have provided the press independence from the major political players.

Revenue sources for the press media in Georgia are state budget, international foundations and sponsors’ grants. The format of the periodicals is highly determined by its revenue sources. Sponsored grants are still the main ones for the most periodicals.

Significance of electronic media has lately increased greatly; the most significant are the following:

www.sakartvelo.info

www.civil.ge

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