Kvemo Kartli TV-Company unexpectedly switched off for several hours on 5 April.  The reason was electricity switchoff in Rustavi Hotel due to damaged power lines; the broadcaster currently airs from the Rustavi Hotel building.  The TV-Company does not have a power generator for keeping broadcasting uninterrupted. 

According to Khatuna Mamardashvili Director of the Kvemo Kartli TV-Company which has been broadcasting inRustaviand Gardabani since 1998, the biggest and only problem for the Company is the lack of technical basis. 

5 journalists and 4 cameramen work on the products for the 24-hour broadcasting television.  According to February 2012 survey by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) 43% of Rustavi population watches the given channel.  

The channel proposes its viewers news, analytical and entertainment programs. 

Newscast Kronika is aired three times a day.  The newscast is planned at 10 a.m.  At 11 p.m. at the end of the working day the newscast management discusses the reports aired during the day together with journalists. 

“In our reports we cover information from throughout the region, from all the municipalities.  We do not only report on visits to the region by governmental or non-governmental figures, but we are also in permanent contact with the population – they call us and we report their problems,” Mamardashvili says.  Channel Director believes that “a journalist must never go to population for searching for topics without preliminary planning; he must have contact persons who call and provide information.” 

Information-analytical program Studio 4 is aired by Kvemo Kartli TV-Company once a week; viewers can call the studio live and ask questions to an invited guest – Sakrebulo (Regional Council) member, or an expert. 

“Our studio area does not allow us to invite people here; so we chose such a format,” Mamardashvili says.  

Every morning the Morning Cocktail show is on; the program provides information about daily useful information – exchange rates, weather forecast and etc. 

Entertainment show VIP Show covers the events underway in cultural sphere. 

Educational program Blitz is of quiz format – it is targeted at school-age children and proposes guessing words. 

The channel also offers two regional programs – Gutani (the Plow) and Gza Cheshmaritebisa (The Way of Truth) – both programs are for Orthodox believers.  Mamardashvili clarifies that Gutani covers different Church-related stories; for example “how pilgrims go to Kazbegi.” 

Guest of the Gza Cheshmaritebisa isRustaviand Marneuli Archbishop, Father Johan, who answers questions asked by calling viewers. 

According to the broadcaster Director special programs about activities by religious representatives are not aired because “Rustavi population is not interested in it.  Although, in the newscast we always cover for example Novruz Bayram (Muslim religious holiday) and other such religious holidays,” Mamardashvili says.  

Kvemo Kartli TV-Company programs are also aired by Marneuli and Bolnisi TV-channels. 

Viewers can request music videos during the Video-Chat program – SMS requests for music videos and DJ-s replies are shown on the screen and the requested videos are aired. 

Khatuna Mamardashvili says that the broadcaster has received the possibility to air licensed motion pictures this February.  “Before that we had no such possibility and TV-Company Sakartvelo (Georgia) aired movies via out network.” 

Financial revenues come mainly from advertisements – both commercial and governmental – for example, advertisements about renewedRustavi. 

The reconstruction and renewal has affected the television too – programs will be broadcasted from a new studio starting 15 April. 

Several programs will also be added to the broadcasting package.  Healthcare program will be aired once a week; viewers will be able to ask questions to the invited medical specialists live.  Viewers receive information about commercial activities inRustavifrom Info Market program.  Program Behind the Masks covers lives of different artists.  

Online address of the television is - www.tvkvemokartli.ge, Due to the small capacity of the portal only two programs – newscast Kronika and Studio 4 are regularly uploaded. 

According to Giorgi Chomakhashvili, Producer, from 500 to 1000 viewers watch the newscast online daily.  Starting 15 April the television will also be available at myvideo.ge. 

During the pre-election period the television plans to launch a new program for increasing population awareness about self-government.  According to Khatuna Mamardashvili the draft title of the program is Self-Governance Hour. 

“We will cover the decrees and order issued by the city self-government; results of activities by different bodies.  Population will understand what rights it has to self-government,” Mamardashvili said.