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Imedi Tv May 2026

Imedi TV (იმედი, which translates to "Hope" in Georgian) was founded in 2003 by the Georgian media mogul and politician Badri Patarkatsishvili. From the very beginning, the channel positioned itself as an alternative voice. However, the station’s history is marked by resilience.

Following the death of Patarkatsishvili in 2008 and a subsequent period of government pressure, the channel changed hands. In 2012, following the Georgian Dream political coalition’s victory in the parliamentary elections, the ownership structure shifted again. Today, Imedi TV is part of the RMG Group (Rustavi Media Group), which also owns prominent radio stations. Despite the changes in ownership and political allegiances over the years, Imedi has consistently remained one of the top three most-watched channels in the country. imedi tv

Perhaps the most controversial moment in Imedi’s history occurred in 2010 when the station broadcast a fake news report claiming that Russia had invaded Tbilisi and that President Saakashvili had been killed. The simulation was intended to show what would happen in a future war, but it caused mass panic. Viewers called emergency services, people collapsed in the streets, and schools went into lockdown. Imedi later apologized, but the incident severely damaged its credibility in the eyes of many Georgians. Imedi TV (იმედი, which translates to "Hope" in

Georgia has been heralded as a regional leader in media freedom compared to other former Soviet republics, yet its broadcast landscape remains deeply polarized. Among the most emblematic cases is Imedi TV (meaning “Hope” in Georgian). Launched as an independent station, Imedi quickly became a ratings leader. However, its transformation — from a critical voice against the United National Movement (UNM) government (2004–2012) to a channel widely perceived as supportive of the Georgian Dream party after 2012 — raises essential questions about media capture, editorial autonomy, and the role of television in shaping democratic discourse. Following the 2010 fake invasion fiasco, Imedi has

This paper addresses three research questions:

Following the 2010 fake invasion fiasco, Imedi has tiptoed into fact-checking. They recently launched a "Myth Detector" segment during their morning show, although critics argue it never fact-checks the government.

Imedi TV (იმედი, which translates to "Hope" in Georgian) was founded in 2003 by the Georgian media mogul and politician Badri Patarkatsishvili. From the very beginning, the channel positioned itself as an alternative voice. However, the station’s history is marked by resilience.

Following the death of Patarkatsishvili in 2008 and a subsequent period of government pressure, the channel changed hands. In 2012, following the Georgian Dream political coalition’s victory in the parliamentary elections, the ownership structure shifted again. Today, Imedi TV is part of the RMG Group (Rustavi Media Group), which also owns prominent radio stations. Despite the changes in ownership and political allegiances over the years, Imedi has consistently remained one of the top three most-watched channels in the country.

Perhaps the most controversial moment in Imedi’s history occurred in 2010 when the station broadcast a fake news report claiming that Russia had invaded Tbilisi and that President Saakashvili had been killed. The simulation was intended to show what would happen in a future war, but it caused mass panic. Viewers called emergency services, people collapsed in the streets, and schools went into lockdown. Imedi later apologized, but the incident severely damaged its credibility in the eyes of many Georgians.

Georgia has been heralded as a regional leader in media freedom compared to other former Soviet republics, yet its broadcast landscape remains deeply polarized. Among the most emblematic cases is Imedi TV (meaning “Hope” in Georgian). Launched as an independent station, Imedi quickly became a ratings leader. However, its transformation — from a critical voice against the United National Movement (UNM) government (2004–2012) to a channel widely perceived as supportive of the Georgian Dream party after 2012 — raises essential questions about media capture, editorial autonomy, and the role of television in shaping democratic discourse.

This paper addresses three research questions:

Following the 2010 fake invasion fiasco, Imedi has tiptoed into fact-checking. They recently launched a "Myth Detector" segment during their morning show, although critics argue it never fact-checks the government.




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