Rustavi 2
Rustavi 2 (Georgian რუსთავი 2) is a private TV channel from Georgia with full program. Its seat is located in Tbilisi. Rustavi 2 played an important role in replacing President Eduard Shevardnadze in the Rose Revolution (November 2003).
Profile
It was founded in 1994 in Rustavi, is now the largest private TV station of Georgia and is financed by advertising revenues. It reaches about 84 % of the Georgian population and can be received outside Georgia via satellite on Eurasiasat 1. Seven times a day latest news are broadcast. The main newscast courier takes place daily at 21 clock.
As one of the first Rustavi 2 introduced American television formats in Georgia. It transfers the only Georgian breakfast television, a Georgian version of the game show Millionaire? and a night show in the style of David Letterman. One of the polulärsten broadcasts the series was 60 minutes, which presented investigative reports regularly.
Rustavi 2 is also the owner of the daily 24 Saati Tiflisser (Eng. 24 hours).
Support for democracy movement
The shipments of Rustavi were critical of the government until 2003. On 26 July 2001, the news anchorman Giorgi Sanaia was murdered in his apartment. In October and November, there were fairy lights and protests in Tbilisi. Although the murder, according to the FBI was done " at a high professional level," the backers could never be traced.
In November 2001, the transmitter units of the Georgian Staatssicherheisministeriums a raid was subjected for alleged tax debts. The minister threatened General erosion Kizmarischwili in an interview with murder. Public rallies for freedom of the press led to a government crisis, after President Shevardnadze auswechselte almost the entire government.
In November 2003, Rustavi set 2 on the side of the Georgian opposition against President Shevardnadze. A few days before the street protests against the rigged parliamentary elections, the station broadcast a documentary about the separation of Slobodan Milošević by the Serbian opposition movement that looked like an instruction manual. The protests against Shevardnadze in Tbilisi were broadcast live by the station around the clock. The station had a giant screen in the city center built, which showed the current television images. After each newscast called Rustavi 2 viewers to commit themselves to join the protest movement.
Government close
The transmitter supports the government President Mikheil Saakashvili today. General erosion Kizmarischwili, tried after the Rose Revolution, continues to control a government independent course. He allowed the editors of critical reports on the brother of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania questionable transactions. In June 2004, declared the Georgian tax authorities, the station had 2.2 million U.S. dollars of tax debt. Four months later Kizmarischwili stepped back from the line of the transmitter and the government announced a debt relief.
Was succeeded by Nika Tabatadse, a co-founder of the transmitter, former chief of the news department and Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia at this time. He made his decision after a meeting with President Mikheil Saakashvili and Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania. In September 2006 he was discharged. Several journalists announced the transmitter. Tengo Gogotischwili, a senior Rustavi - editor, said Tabatadse had to go because he had always been mindful of reporting on " a balance between truth and government purposes ". Successor as Director-General was the head of an advertising agency.
Original owner of Rustavi 2 were erosion Kizmarischwili, David Dwali, Dschardschi Akimidse and Nika Tabatadse. From July 2004 to December 2005, the TV station owned 90% of the adjarian businessman Kibar Khalvashi who owns the Georgian sales network of Procter & Gamble. 10% ownership of the station remained with Tabatadse. Khalvashi was seen as apolitical, but to the government. He had close links with the then Minister of Defence Irakli Okruashvili, who was his lawyer for several years. On January 4, 2006 David acquired Besuaschwili, a brother of the Georgian Foreign Minister, 22 % of the shares of Rustavi 2 Khalvashi retained 78%.
In the summer of 2006 Khalvashi sold his share of the company GEOTRANS, Bezhuashvili to the company 's Georgia Industrial Group (GIG ). Later Rustavi 2 was, together with the television station TV Mse to 45 % of the GIG. The remaining shares were in the hands of GeoMedia Group, whose headquarters is in the Marshall Islands. Who is behind the company is not officially known. According to the previous owner of Rustavi - Kizmarischwili President Saakashvili is owned by the GeoMedia Group - bearer. In fall 2008, took over the general manager of the station, Irakli Tschikowani, 30 % of the shares of the transmitter. The GeoMedia Group that, among the 40 % of the shares, 30 % is held by Georgia 's Industrial Group (GIG ).
Reception
Rustavi 2 can be received digitally in Germany on the following satellites:
Eurasiasat 1 at 42 ° East 12596 MHz, vertical, symbol rate: 25000 Msym / s, FEC: 5/6