GNCC has launched a media-monitoring of preliminary period of self-government mid-elections on April 2, 2016, and within 50 days, 24/7,  will monitor 4 broadcasting channels ( “TV-Company Kavkasia” Ltd, “TV-Company Tbilisi” Ltd (MusicBox), “Independent TV-Radio Company Odishi” Ltd and “Independent Broadcasting Company Guria” Ltd).

In accordance with the “Election Code,” Georgian law “on Broadcasting” and resolution N9 of August 15, 2012, “on participation of the media in the electoral process and rule of its application” approved by GNCC, following demands are defined for the broadcasters:  

In accordance with part I of Article 50 of Georgian Organic Law “on Code of Elections of Georgia,” no later than the 50th day before polling until the polling day, entities authorized for general broadcasting, during allocation of airtime for pre-election agitation and political advertising, in compliance with the form established “on participation of  the media in the electoral process and rule of its application” (Annex I), are obligated to publicly announce and weekly submit to Georgian National Communications Commission the following information:

a)       from and until which date and to what frequency the airtime is allocated;  

b)       duration and schedule of the allocated airtime in the course of one day;

c)       airtime fee;

d)       service provided.

It should be noted, that paid airtime allocated by a TV or radio broadcaster during one day, shall not exceed 15% of its total daily broadcasting time and no election subject shall be granted more than one-third of this time. Paid airtime fee shall be equal for all election subjects (both for qualified and unqualified subjects). When broadcasting a political advertising, the screen corner shall display an inscription "paid political advertising” or 'free political advertising.” Furthermore, any election video aired by the broadcaster shall be equipped with a translation (for disabled).  Responsible person for the provision of the noted shall be an electoral subject himself/herself.

Also, in accordance with the Georgian Organic Law “on Code of Elections of Georgia,” and resolution N9 of August 15, 2012, “on participation of the media in the electoral process and rule of its application” approved by GNCC, the obligation to allocate free advertising airtime shall apply to those local persons and companies authorized for general broadcasting as well as to the companies authorized for specialized broadcasting, which will place pre-election paid (political) commercials through their broadcasting net. This obligation shall come into force 30 days prior to the polling day and advertising airtime allocated for 1 election subject shall not exceed 90 seconds in every 3 hours.

Public Broadcaster shall ensure a translation (for disabled) during the course of the coverage of pre-election campaigns while broadcasting election-related programs.

In accordance with the Georgian Organic Law “on Code of Elections of Georgia,” and resolution N9 of August 15, 2012, “on participation of the media in the electoral process and rule of its application” approved by GNCC:

-      A general broadcaster intending to broadcast the pre-election campaign shall ensure the re-transmission of pre-election debates in a non-discriminatory manner and with the equal participation of all qualified election subjects in the course of pre-election campaign within its coverage zone.

-   In the course of the pre-election campaign, while broadcasting of social-political programs and elections, a broadcaster shall observe the principle of impartiality and fairness pursuant to resolution   №2 of March 12, 2009, on “Code of Conduct of the Broadcasters” approved by GNCC.  

In addition, in accordance with Article 49 of the Georgian Law “on Broadcasting,” a broadcaster shall maintain a program archive and keep programs for at least one month. The recording of all programs placed through the broadcaster’s net by the broadcaster during the course of pre-election period shall be carried out in a continuous mode. Afterwards, every Friday, the archived material shall be presented to the Commission.