Media Development Foundation, MDF, within the frames of the project Media Monitoring for Professional Media supported by Open Society - Georgia Foundation, continues publication of media monitoring results.

George Mgeladze conducted the monitoring of TV advertisements aired in March-April, 2011 by the five major TV companies in Georgia. Within the frames of the project Mgeladze observed five TV channels for five weeks, from March 7, 2011 through April 11, 2011. Selected channels include: broadcasting company Rustavi 2, TV-Imedi, TV companies Kavkasia, Maestro, and the First Channel of Georgian Public Broadcasting, GPB. He observed the prime-time broadcasts (19:00 - 24:00, as defined by the law) including news and social - political programs, and analyzed ad placement and existing practices compliance with the Law on Broadcasting. It should be noted that the monitoring was conducted before the amendments to the Law on Advertising entered into force, thus, the following report contains the assessment of amendments. According to the author, the monitoring evidently shows that amendments are contradictory to the recommendations of the European Union and the legislative initiative actually fits into the practices existing in Georgian TV companies. The cases of violation of the laws on advertising and broadcasting, revealed during the monitoring time scope, are not considered illegal according to amendments. However, this does not reverse the earlier fact of violation of the law. In addition, it is clear that the main beneficiaries of amendments are several TV companies.

George Mgeladze will conduct the monitoring again, in six months, within the frames of MDF project providing the opportunity of studying the dynamics of TV companies’ compliance with the law. The full monitoring report by George Mgeladze, Advertisement Monitoring in Georgian Media is attached.