Mtavari Arkhi collected the highest amount of revenue (GEL 4,270,075) from paid pre-election advertising, as shown by the Communication Commission’s analysis of free and paid political advertising during the 2020 Georgian parliamentary elections. The average cost per minute of placing paid political advertising on Mtavari Arkhi was GEL 5,583. Mtavari Arkhi allocated 66.2% of its paid political advertising time to the United National Movement, which accounted for 62.9% of the broadcaster’s revenues.

The second place in terms of revenues collected from paid political advertising during the pre-election period is held by Teleimedi with revenues totaling GEL 3,327,974. The average cost per minute of placing paid political advertising on the channel was GEL 3,902. Teleimedi allocated 71.6% of its paid political advertising time to Georgian Dream, which accounted for 67.5% of the broadcaster’s revenues.

The revenues of Rustavi 2 from paid political advertising amounted to GEL 2,065,163.  The average cost per minute of placing paid political advertising on the channel was GEL 3,672. Rustavi 2 allocated most of its paid political advertising time (67.4%) to Georgian Dream, which accounted for 60.9% of the broadcaster’s revenues.

The revenues of TV Pirveli from paid political advertising amounted to GEL 1,865,753. The average cost per minute of placing paid political advertising on the channel was GEL 3,978. TV Pirveli allocated the largest share of its paid political advertising time (37.1%) to Strategy Aghmashenebeli, although Lelo accounted for the largest share of the broadcaster’s revenues (27.6%).

According to Article 50.1 of the Election Code of Georgia, a broadcast license holder, an authorised over-the-air broadcaster, the Public Broadcaster and Adjara TV and Radio of the Public Broadcaster must, if airtime is allotted for pre-election campaigning and political advertising, publicly announce and weekly submit to the GNCC the following information: from and until what date and at what intervals the airtime is allotted, its duration and schedule of the allotted airtime during one day, and service provided. The analysis of free and paid political advertising during the 2020 Georgian parliamentary elections is based on the aforementioned information submitted by the broadcasters.