The Public Broadcaster of Georgia addresses the rumors spread yesterday regarding the closure of Davit Gorgiladze's program with a statement that reads that in addition to “Gorgiladze's unbearable lightness,” the channel “Teleschool,” programs – “Day Code”, “Farm,” “Free Vision with Giorgi Gvimradze”, “Hopla we live”, “With Natalia and Datuna”, and “Katsebi PLAY” are also being canceled. Pirveli Arkhi (channel 1) cites the change in the broadcaster's funding method and building as the reason for downsizing.
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“With the amendments made to the Law on Broadcasting, the model and rules of funding of the broadcaster have changed accordingly. It is also known that in 2024, the broadcaster is moving to a new building, which is related to infrastructural and technological changes, which, in turn, increases the capital costs of the organization.
The current situation leaves the organization faced with a new reality, which is obliged, on the one hand, to maintain continuous broadcasting, to fulfill the content obligations, and, on the other hand, to change the planned programming according to the new circumstances.
All programs on the public broadcaster are equally valuable, high-quality, and important. Diversity - information, knowledge, entertainment, and sports, which is the cornerstone of any public broadcaster, implies the satisfaction of the tastes of all types of viewers and excludes the politicization of programs.
For years, the channel has been hosting various programs of political, social, and cultural content, and this approach remains unchanged. The restructuring was planned based on the given financial changes and will affect all projects, as well as each employee of the organization in different ways.
We consider it categorically unacceptable to politicize the issue surrounding any program. Different types of viewers will experience shortages depending on their tastes and preferences because of these changes.
Negotiations are also underway with all outsourcing companies (6 companies) regarding the changes.
Based on the fact that the 2024 budget of the Public Broadcaster was approved on December 14, face-to-face communication with the creative groups of all projects was completed yesterday, and today we inform of the current situation all those who care about the idea of the Public Broadcaster because the interpretation will only prevent us from seeing the real picture,” says the statement of Pirveli Arkhi.
Pirveli Arkhi did not explain how much money it would save by closing these programs and how unavoidable it was to cancel demanded projects among them.
News regarding the cancellation of Dato Gorgiladze's program broke on December 15. It is noteworthy that the presenter publicly stated his position against the so-called 'Russian Law' On Foreign Agents, which Georgian Dream attempted to pass in March of this year. On March 6, Gorgiladze wrote about the deputies supporting the bill:
“Don’t say hello to them. To those who have the courage, tell them to their face that they are shameless people with not a shred of conscience. Embarrass them [it will be hard, but try]. If you find yourself at the Georgian table with them, stand up demonstratively and leave the place. Everyone who supports this law deserves this treatment. Time will do this anyway, it is inevitable, but let's start from here.”
