TV Imedi received most ads, but suffered biggest loses last year – TI Georgia

Transparency International Georgia on Tuesday released its report on incomes of television stations and advertising market, which revealed the Imedi TV, which is labeled as pro-government by the opposition, had received most of the ads last year, but also suffered biggest losses. 

The organization said that the company had received 31.1 million GEL in 2021 (37.4% of the advertising market), and the loss amounted to 74.4 million GEL.

According to the study, none of the five largest television stations in the country made a profit last year. 

The report said that 116 television stations were broadcasting in Georgia, while the top five held 81% of the total advertising market.

TI Georgia suggested that in recent years, the leading TV company Rustavi 2 has had the “largest advertising decrease”, which coincides with the change of its owner. Compared to 2018, its advertising incomes in 2021 have decreased by 19.3 million GEL (63.4%) and amounted to 11.1 million GEL., said

The  incomes of the opposition-minded Mtavari channel, founded in 2019, amounted to 11.9 million GEL, taking the second place in terms of incomes. 

Another opposition-minded FormulaTV took the first place in terms of total revenues from private televisions worth 37.5 million GEL, of which 31.6 million GEL was a “non-broadcast income”, a loan from its owner, by currently wanted former defense minister, Davit Kezerashvili.
In 2021, the total income of private TV stations increased  by 1.3 million GEL (1%) and amounted to 139.8 million GEL.