GNCC has partially satisfied complaints by TV Company “Rioni” against “Mega-TV” and has issued a written warning upon “Mega-TV.”

In the scope of the first complaint, “Rioni” was disputing the violation of geographical coverage specified in the scope of licensing conditions by “Mega-TV” which, “Rioni” believed was violating the Georgian law “on Broadcasting.” Also, the subject of dispute was the placement of an improper advertisement about the coverage area.

Within a second statement, “Rioni” was disputing a circumstance, where in the composition of both regulatory bodies of “Mega-TV”- Board of Ethics and Appellate Body, the name of a same employee was being mentioned. In accordance with the “Broadcasting Code of Conduct,” in order to establish effective self-regulative mechanism, the member of Appellate body must not take part in making a decision at the regulatory body. Appellate Body shall be composed of independent, unbiased and competent individuals.

As TV Company “Rioni” explains, an employee of “Mega-TV” can’t be considered as independent and unbiased individual. Also, “Rioni” was disputing the violations of procedural norms of a case review by the self-regulatory body of “Mega-TV.”

After the public review of these issues, the Commission has partially satisfied complaints submitted by “Rioni” and has issued a written warning upon “Mega-TV” in regards to an improper advertisement about coverage area, as well as, in regards to the grievance procedures violated by the self-regulatory body.

The full versions of both decisions are available at the Commission’s official decision’s page.