http://www.tv25.ge/

info@tv25.ge

Address:

Takaishvili str. #61, Batumi 6000

Phone:

+995 (0422) 27-69-25

Television TV channel 25

TV Channel 25 was founded in Batumi in June 1993 and it provides information to the Adjarian population. The TV channel owns private/general broadcasting license and it covers Batumi, Kobuleti, Khelvachauri, a part of Ozurgeti district and the coastal line from Sarpi to Poti.  

Presently, the TV channel is owned by Giorgi Surmanidze (49%) and Malkhaz Verdzadze (51%). The channel has changed hands for several times. In 2000, Mikheil Gagoshidze became the owner of shares belonging to Giorgi Surmanidze (51%) and Malkhaz Verdzadze (24%). Since May 2004 Mikheil Verdzadze is no more listed among the founders and again Giorgi Surmanidze and Malkhaz Verdzadze became owners of 75% of shares. According to the information posted on the channel’s website, the mentioned changes were related to the government. “On February 19, 2000, security officers coerced the TV channel’s management to give up their shares, as a result of which the TV channel was transferred to the ownership of Adjarian leader, Aslan Abashidze.”

Next changes in ownership were made in February 2012 as a result of which the TV channel became owned by Levan Kardava (50%) and Jemal Verdzadze (50%). Levan Kardava was elected a majoritarian MP from the Tsalenjikha single mandate constituency during the 2012 parliamentary elections and he is now a majoritarian MP from the United National Movement parliamentary faction.

In October 2012, Jemal Verdzadze became a 100% owner of the TV channel; in November 2012, Giorgi Surmanidze became owner of 49% of shares with the remaining shares belonging to Jemal Verdzadze. In January 2014, the TV channel’s owners made a statement, claiming that they were pressured by the prosecutor’s office during questioning to admit that they were coerced into giving up their shares after direct interference of top officials from the previous authorities. The Georgian Public Defender and a group of non-governmental organizations demanded the government to investigate the claims of the media owners.