Soso Sturua, DG of Adjaran Television and Radio (left), and Giorgi Baratashvili, DG of GPB
take the 'ice bucket challenge' (EBU)

The directors general of Georgia’s two public service broadcasters took up the 'ice bucket challenge' during a meeting in Batumi aimed at increasing cooperation.

Giorgi Baratashvili, Director General of Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), and Soso Sturua, Director General of Adjara TV and Radio, poured buckets of water and ice-cubes over themselves to raise money for charity during a gathering between the two broadcasters and the EBU’s Partnership Programme.

The ice bucket craze has swept the web over recent weeks.

Boris Bergant, EBU Consultant and former Vice-President, and David Lewis, EBU Head of Member Relations, held lengthy discussions with the new board of GPB in Tbilisi, followed by meetings with the directors general of the Georgian broadcasters in Batumi as part of this latest phase of strategic assistance to GPB.

Four years ago, a team of EBU consultants led by Mr Bergant developed a strategic action plan for GPB. However, many elements were not implemented owing to conflicts and legal challenges between GPB’s director general and its former supervisory board, which also challenged its own dissolution by the new legislation.

Under a compromise adopted by Parliament, GPB will have two boards until the terms of the members of the outgoing board expire.

Marina Muskhelishvili, Deputy Chair of the Adjara Board, hopes that Adjara TV and Radio can become the basis of a second GPB channel covering all Georgia’s regions.

Adjara became part of Georgia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1992, and Adjara TV and Radio formally became a public service broadcaster under the umbrella of GPB following media legislation in November 2013.

It employs 240 staff on a budget for 2014 of 5.9 million Georgian lari (€ 2.6 million) transferred from GPB. A new schedule based on public service principles will be launched this autumn.

Mr Bergant will lead another mission to Tbilisi in late September to help review and update GPB’s Strategic Plan of 2011-2015.