Rustavi 2
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| TV station ( private law ) | |
| Program type | Full program |
| reception | Cable , satellite |
| Start of transmission | 1994 |
| List of TV channels | |
| Website | |
Rustavi 2 ( Georgian რუსთავი 2 ) is a private television station from Georgia with full programming . Its seat is in Tbilisi . Rustavi 2 played an important role in the Rose Revolution (November 2003) in the replacement of President Eduard Shevardnadze .
profile
It was founded in Rustavi in 1994 , is now the largest private television broadcaster in Georgia and is financed from advertising income. It reaches around 84% of the Georgian population and can be received outside of Georgia via satellite on Eurasiasat 1 . The latest news is broadcast seven times a day . The main news program, Courier, takes place every day at 9 p.m.
Rustavi was one of the first to introduce 2 American television formats in Georgia. It broadcasts the only Georgian breakfast television , a Georgian version of the quiz program Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and a David Letterman- style night show . One of the most popular programs was the 60 minutes series , which regularly presented investigative reports .
Rustawi 2 is also the owner of the Tiflisser daily newspaper 24 Saati (Eng. 24 hours ).
Support the democracy movement
The programs from Rustavi were critical of the government until 2003. On July 26, 2001, news anchorman Giorgi Sanaia was murdered in his home. In October and November there were fairy lights and protests in Tbilisi. Although the murder was carried out "at a high professional level" according to the FBI , the people behind it could never be found.
In November 2001 the station was raided by units of the Georgian State Security Ministry on alleged tax debts. In an interview, the minister threatened General Director Erosi Kizmarishvili with murder. Public rallies for the freedom of the press led to a government crisis, after which President Shevardnadze replaced almost the entire government.
In November 2003, Rustavi 2 sided with the Georgian opposition to President Shevardnadze. A few days before the street protests against the fraudulent parliamentary elections, the broadcaster broadcast a documentary about the replacement of Slobodan Milošević by the Serbian opposition movement, which looked like a user manual. The protests against Shevardnadze in Tbilisi were broadcast live around the clock. The broadcaster had set up a huge screen in the city center that showed the current TV images. After every news broadcast, Rustavi 2 called on viewers to join the protest movement.
Closeness to government
The broadcaster supported President Mikheil Saakashvili's government , which was replaced on October 1, 2012. General director Erosi Kizmarishvili tried after the Rose Revolution to continue to steer a course independent of the government. He allowed the editors to critically report on questionable business dealings by Prime Minister Zurab Schwania's brother . In June 2004, the Georgian tax authorities announced that the station owed US $ 2.2 million in taxes. Four months later, Kizmarishvili resigned from managing the station and the government announced debt relief.
His successor was Nika Tabatadze, a co-founder of the station, former head of the news department and at that time Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia. He made his decision after speaking with President Mikheil Saakashvili and Prime Minister Zurab Schwania. In September 2006 he was also released. Several journalists quit the station. Tengo Gogotishvili, a senior Rustavi editor, said Tabatadze had to leave because he had always “balanced the truth with the government's wishes” when reporting. He was succeeded as general director by the head of an advertising agency .
owner
The original owners of Rustavi 2 were Erosi Kizmarishvili, David Dwali, Jardschi Akimidze and Nika Tabatadze. From July 2004 to December 2005, 90% of the TV station was owned by the Ajarian businessman Kibar Chalwaschi, who owns the Georgian distribution network of Procter & Gamble . 10% ownership of the transmitter remained with Tabatadze. Chalwaschi was considered apolitical, but close to the government. He had close ties to then Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili , who was his lawyer for several years. On January 4, 2006, David Besuashvili, a brother of the Georgian Foreign Minister, acquired 22% of the shares in Rustavi 2. Khalvashi kept 78%.
In the summer of 2006 Chalwaschi sold his stake to the GeoTrans company , Beschuaschwili to the Georgia's Industrial Group (GIG). Rustavi 2 later owned 45% of the GIG together with the television broadcaster Mse TV . The remaining shares were in the hands of the GeoMedia Group , whose headquarters are in the Marshall Islands . It is not officially known who is behind the company. According to the former Rustavi owner Kizmarishvili, President Saakashvili is in possession of the GeoMedia-Group - bearer shares . In autumn 2008 the general director of the station, Irakli Tschikowani, took over 30% of the company shares of the station. The GeoMedia Group then owns 40% of the shares, Georgia's Industrial Group (GIG) holds 30% .
reception
Rustawi 2 can be received digitally in Germany via the following satellites:
Eurasiasat 1 on 42 ° East 12596 MHz, vertical, symbol rate: 25000 Msym / s, FEC: 5/6
Web links
- Website Rustawi 2 (en, ge)
- Ownership of Rustavi 2 (en)
- Political influence on Rustavi 2 (en)
- The Rustavi Affair 2, 2001
Individual evidence
- ↑ Rustawi 2: Mze TV Suspends News ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , June 26, 2008
- ^ Civil Georgia: Former Envoy in Russia Sets Up Foundation , Nov. 6, 2008
- ^ Civil Georgia: Changes Among Rustavi 2 TV Shareholders , Nov. 12, 2008
