Pro-Government TV Channels Account for Over Three-Quarters of Advertising Revenue in Q1 2026
Georgia’s pro-government TV channels – Imedi, Rustavi 2, and POSTV – accounted for more than three-quarters of all television advertising revenue of GEL 25.6 million (approximately USD 9.5 million) during the first quarter of 2026, according to independent media watchdog Mediachecker, based on official data from the Communications Commission (ComCom), the state media regulator.
Imedi TV and POSTV, which were the first and third-largest recipients with GEL 10.8 million (approximately USD 4 million) and GEL 1.9 million (approximately USD 709,000), respectively, were sanctioned by the United Kingdom on February 24 over “Russian disinformation.” It is unclear, however, whether the reported advertising revenue, which covers the January-March period, was received before or after the sanctions. Another pro-government channel, Rustavi 2, came as the second-largest recipient with GEL 7.9 million (approximately USD 2.9 million).
According to Mediachecker, among Imedi TV’s largest contributors were Meama, a coffee company, Anagi, a construction firm, and Avenue By Orbi, a hotel complex developed by Orbi Group in Batumi, each spending more than GEL 500,000 (approximately USD 187,000) on advertising with the channel.
Meanwhile, critical TV Pirveli and Formula TV received GEL 1.26 million (approximately USD 470,000) and GEL 978,200 (approximately USD 365,000), respectively. The continued disparity between the pro-government and government-critical channels’ advertising revenues comes as broadcasters in Georgia are banned from receiving foreign funding, except for commercial transactions, under amendments to the Broadcasting Law adopted in 2025.
Formula TV reported on May 4 that its broadcast had been partially suspended for part of its audience due to an outstanding debt to Stereo Plus, an operator that distributes the channel’s free-to-air signal via a digital multiplex to viewers without cable television. The channel said on May 13 that it resumed the disrupted broadcasting.
In March, TV Pirveli also said that its satellite broadcasting was halted due to unpaid fees. The shutdown in TV Pirveli’s case mainly affected viewers in regions and remote areas, where online streaming and on pay TV platforms were less available.
According to ComCom’s data, total television commercial advertising revenue reached GEL 25.6 million in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 72.7% increase compared to the same period last year. In January-March 2025, broadcasters received GEL 14.8 million in advertising revenue, with Imedi also leading the market at the time with GEL 6.1 million.
In December, Transparency International-Georgia, a local watchdog group, reported that “17 regional broadcasters” halted operations in 2025 due to financial difficulties.
Also Read:
- 19/02/2026 – Pro-Government Channels Take Almost 80% of Georgia’s TV Ad Revenue in 2025
- 17/02/2026 – Kavkasia TV Says It Faces Proceedings from Regulator Over Donation from U.S.
- 16/01/2026 – Regulator Warns Formula TV Over Alleged UNM Funding