The Communications Commission has decided to extend the radio broadcasting license for Radio Holding Fortuna by five years free of charge. The broadcaster’s license was due to expire on 30 January 2022, but has now been extended until 31 December 2026 based on the amendments to the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting. 

Changes to the Law on Broadcasting came into effect in November 2021 as a result of the joint efforts of the Communications Commission, the government and the radio broadcasters. The broadcasters had appealed to the Commission and the Administration of the Government, asking for the radio broadcasting licenses to be extended free of charge, and the debts owed by the broadcasters to the TV and Radio Centre to be cancelled in light of the circumstances caused by the pandemic. As the advertising revenues of radio broadcasters decreased significantly according to the 2020 figures, the Commission, the Government and the Parliament satisfied the request of the broadcasters. The Parliament amended the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting, while the Government took the decision to cancel the debt of GEL 1.5 million owed by the broadcasters to the TV and Radio Centre, as well as to waive the service fees until the end of the year. 

At the end of 2021, the Communications Commission extended the private broadcasting licenses of ten radio broadcasters that were due to expire on 31 December 2021 until 31 December 2026 free of charge.  This process is set to continue, and all radio broadcasters whose already extended licenses are due to expire by 31 December 2025, will have the license period extended until 31 December 2026 free of charge.