“A new, independent player who is oriented toward high professional standards shall enter Georgian TV market; this would be the only serious step. It shall be done with the involvement of foreigners, i.e. foreign management in the first place”, – declared Giorgi Targamadze, chairman of the Christian-Democratic Movement and the leader of the parliamentary minority in the interview with Alia newspaper.
According to Targamadze it is possible for “Georgians to be the owners, as our legislature regulates TV ownership shares foreigners may possess; although foreigners shall have leading functions in the areas of ownership and management; at the same time, these individuals shall be recommended by EU and the U.S.”.
In 2003-2007 Targamadze was the head of Imedi TV’s social-political programs department. During his last two years at Imedi TV the television and radio company was managed by News Corp transnational corporation. Joseph Key, who runs Imedi since Spring 2008 refused to cooperate with News Corp. Giorgi Targamadze declares that News Corp was involved in the management of Imedi to protect the company against the pressure of governmental authority.
In the newspaper interview Targamadze urges foreigners to be directors of Georgian televisions, as well as heads of information departments.
As Alia newspaper reports, Targamadze introduced his proposal to international organizations during her last visit to Washington. According to Targamadze he hasn’t received any specific answers as he proposed a new idea that needs to be worked on; professional and political consultations are also necessary.
As Targamadze declared Georgian authority will probably try its best to hinder realization of the idea, but there is a chance that the authority will compromise. “When the government is asking for USD 3 billion of financial aid for stabilizing social and economic systems of Georgia, West shall attach strings to the money and liberating Georgian television space shall be one of them”, – declared Targamadze.