Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) – State Media Monitor

The Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) is Georgia’s national public-service broadcaster, operating two television and two radio channels. Founded in 1925 as Georgian Radio and in 1956 as Georgian Television, GPB was formally established in its modern public-service form in December 2004, under a transformation from a state-run entity to a public broadcaster.

Media assets

Television: First Channel, Second Channel

Radio: Georgian Radio, Georgian Radio Music

State Media Matrix Typology

Ownership and governance

GPB is a Legal Entity under Public Law (LEPL), ultimately owned by the Government of Georgia. The broadcaster is overseen by a nine-member Board of Trustees, appointed by Parliament. This board is entrusted with selecting the Director General through an open competition. As of 2025, Tinatin Berdzenishvili holds the post of Director General (sometimes also referred to as CEO).

Source of funding and budget

GPB remains the principal recipient of state support among Georgian media. Under current legislation, its annual state budget allocation must be at least 0.14% of national GDP, which secures a degree of insulation from political interference.

In 2021, GPB’s budget stood at approximately GEL 69.6 million (about €23.6 million), but by 2024 it had swelled to around GEL 110.3 million (about €37.5 million)—a striking 160% increase.

The sharp budget jump sparked legislative proposals in late 2023 aimed at replacing the automatic GDP‑linked funding mechanism with annual parliamentary approval. Supporters argue this brings GPB in line with other public agencies in terms of accountability, while critics warn it could pave the way for political meddling.

By early 2025, GPB unveiled its “Uniting & Uplifting Georgia: A Roadmap to 2030″—a forward‑looking strategy. It envisages organizing programming around four mission‑critical domains—Literacy & Learning, Health & Wellness, Arts & Culture, and Civic Engagement—and aims to raise an extra US‑$5 million annually, supplementing its roughly US$43 million operating budget. Here, state funding covers about one‑third of costs; the rest comes from fundraising, corporate sponsorships, and individual donors.

Editorial independence

By law, GPB must provide “accurate and up‑to‑date information free of political and commercial bias” and “serve the broader interests of Georgian society through varied programming.” . In practice, however, GPB has faced persistent criticism for exhibiting a pro‑government slant, including shutting down talk shows amenable to opposition voices.

In early 2025, tensions boiled over when GPB journalists interrupted a Board of Trustees meeting, which was being broadcast live, to highlight inadequate coverage of pro‑EU protests and political repression, especially the imprisonment of Mzia Amaghlobeli, director of Batumelebi/Netgazeti publication. Anchor Vasil Ivanov‑Chikovani recited “Solidarity and freedom to Mzia Amaghlobeli” eleven times and openly challenged the editorial influence of the Board Chairman, Vasil Maglaperidze, a former deputy chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The Director General, Tinatin Berdzenishvili, has pushed back against the accusations, but the episode highlighted how fragile the internal safeguards are.

In conclusion, while GPB retains the formal trappings of independence, in real terms it operates under strong political influence from the ruling Georgian Dream party and government structures.

August 2025