The Communications Commission has issued written warnings to TV Pirveli for violating product placement regulations, Rustavi 2 - for advertising hard alcoholic drinks, and Alt-Info - for broadcasting a programme in a foreign language without the mandatory subtitles in the state language. 

With regards to TV Pirveli, the case concerns the show Morning Live, which became subject to monitoring by the Communications Commission to establish the broadcaster’s compliance with product (goods/services) placement, teleshopping and advertising regulations. Monitoring established that the show in question aired a report about a childcare product company, whose representative appeared on the show. Furthermore, company products were placed in the studio for additional exposure. More than 10 minutes were devoted to advertising the products, and the content of the show was tailored to the company. The Communications Commission discussed the issue and determined that the importance of the product was exaggerated, which also influenced the programme content. According to the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting, “products (goods/services) shall be placed in a programme so that they do not: influence the content of the programme, including the editorial independence of the broadcaster; contain a direct appeal to purchase the product; or exaggerate the importance of the product.”

With regards to Rustavi 2, the case concerns the show “Good Morning Georgia,” which featured the representative of a beverage company as a guest. During the show, the guest prepared a cocktail using hard alcohol, namely vodka, and provided the audience with the cocktail recipe. The Georgian legislation prohibits the placement of hard alcoholic drinks in the programmes. 

With regards to Al-Info, the case concerns the programme “Comment of the Day,” which featured an interview in a foreign language (Russian) without the mandatory subtitles in state language. The total length of the interview was 1 minute and 33 seconds. According to the Georgian legislation, authorised general national broadcasters must air programmes in the state language of Georgia. 

As none of the three broadcasters in question had committed administrative offences over the past one year, the Communications Commission issued them with a written warning.