GPB suspends contract with PIK TV20.10.12 15:23Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) has suspended a contract with PIK TV. Director General of GPB has released a statement regarding its future relations with the TV-station. The statement reads as follows: “Lately, the Georgian public has been provided with incorrect information spread through various media sources about the Third Channel of GPB. GPB has been abstaining from public comment purposefully since it has been fulfilling its all obligations (including financial) towards the contractor company. "On October 15, one part of “PIK” TV’s employees without prior agreement with GPB’s management expressed protest on the air of GPB’s Third Channel allegedly about belated salary liabilities. This standoff was followed by an unauthorized display of the Third channel TV-signal on that satellite, with which GPB had terminated relations. This move might increase GPB’s expenditures. For further explanation: "1. According to the contract concluded on January 13, 2012 with “PIK” TV, the display of signal and its management is the exclusive authority of GPB and hence, its unsanctioned modification is harsh violation of the agreement. "2. Based on the same agreement, the content viewed by Third Channel of GPB’s viewers, is the property of GPB. Usage of this content by employees of TV Company’s employees with purpose of expression of claims as part of the internal dispute is categorically inadmissible, and represents violation of the agreement’s terms. "GPB informed the company’s management about the problem on October 16, and warned it that violation of the agreement’s terms would generate revision of relations. In response to the letter, on October 17, General Director of “PIK” applied to GPB. According to the letter, General Director of “PIK” was taking the responsibility to notify the company’s founders. On October 18, General Director of “PIK” applied to GPB with a request to terminate the existing agreements between GPB and “PIK” in agreement with the company’s partners, and to begin negotiations. "GPB responded to the request through the letter and suspended business contacts with “PIK” unless the situation becomes clear. As for the relations of the broadcaster with the company “Globecast” : "The decision to terminate cooperation with the company was made on the October 11. The partner company was informed about termination the same day by email. On October 12, the broadcaster ceased the signal display to the relevant satellite. The corresponding decision followed the circumstances that in the period of several months the signal of the broadcaster’s Third Channel was double displayed to Globecast and Turksat satellites as well. The latter delivered its service to the broadcaster free of charge in testing regime. GPB, in the frames of its exclusive rights made the decision to make the choice out of concurrent companies to the one with more advantageous terms. "Hereby we respond to the claims of some Non Governmental Organizations as in regards of the so claimed non transparent activities of GPB. Each report of GPB’s activities (as well as financial) is posted on the official web-site of GPB together with video records of all sessions held by the Board of Trustees as well as other information that might serve to the interest of the public. We are prepared to listen to each claim regarding denying in providing the public information. We welcome any kind of audit – state of private to probe into GPB’s activities". |
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