Georgian ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Channel 9 was deprived of its license by the Georgian National Commission for Communications (GNCC) on February 6 for failing to broadcast for over 3 months. GNCC will discuss the problem again on March 10, Georgia Online reports.
The channel has been broadcasting since 2012. Ivanishvili decided to close the TV company down in mid-2013. The channel has not been broadcasting since August 19.
Aktsept is the official owner of Channel 9. 80% of Aktsept belongs to Yekaterina Khvedelidze, Ivanishvili’s wife, and 20% to Kakha Kobiashvili, her relative.
Khvedelidze sold her shares to Leri Kapanadze for 10,000 laris on January 29, 2014. The new owner is also a member of the board of the Chikhura Sachkhere FC, a team financed by Ivanishvili. Kapanadze owns Didveli and Imedi 09.
Ivanishvili said on January 4 that he did not know what to do with the equipment left after the company closed.
