To help explore this topic further, tell me if you want to focus on: The of the 2007 studio raid Current viewership ratings and market share statistics Specific biographies of its notable anchors and founders Let me know how you would like to expand the article. Share public link
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: It consistently ranks as the most-watched and highly-rated channel in Georgia, capturing approximately 45% of the total TV advertising revenue as of 2025. Ownership Evolution Badri Patarkatsishvili (2003–2008). Briefly under government control following the 2007 raid. Returned to the Patarkatsishvili family in 2012. Irakli Rukhadze until February 2026, when shares were sold to Prime Media Global and the channel's management team. Historical Significance To help explore this topic further, tell me
When most people search for "imedi tv," they are referring to Imedi TV, a media powerhouse in the country of Georgia. The name "Imedi" means "hope" in the Georgian language, a title that speaks to its initial role as an independent voice in a turbulent media landscape. Today, it is one of the most-watched and highly-rated private television channels in Georgia, with a complex history that has seen it evolve from an opposition crusader to a firm pillar of the pro-government establishment. Briefly under government control following the 2007 raid
Imedi TV is well-known for several high-profile incidents that have shaped Georgia's media landscape:
As the political landscape in Georgia shifts (with potential EU integration or closer ties with Russia), Imedi will likely follow the government line. If Georgian Dream loses power in future elections, Imedi faces an existential crisis: Will it become an opposition channel, or will new owners take over?
The day after the sanctions were announced, major changes unfolded within the channel's ownership and management structure. Irakli Rukhadze and several members of Imedi's supervisory board submitted applications to the Public Registry to resign from their positions. The new owners of Imedi were listed as Prime Media Global, the current Director General Maka Lomidze, and her deputies. This new entity is fully owned by Ilia Mikelashvili, a former government official. Reports indicated that Rukhadze had transferred the intermediary company through which he held 100% ownership of Imedi for the nominal sum of 1,000 GEL, despite the channel reportedly having approximately 17 million GEL in debt to the state at the time of the transaction. Imedi TV itself has dismissed the UK's sanctions as holding "no value," stating that the only valuable assessment is the trust of the Georgian people.