On April 17, 2014, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) with the assistance of Media Advocacy Coalition published a survey “Georgian TV Audience Rating – Challenges for Media Sector of Georgia.”

The goal of the survey, its presentation and the discussion thereto was to review internationally recognized TV rating measurement standards, to compare practices of several countries, to overview positive and negative practices in Georgia and to develop recommendations through participation of involved and interested in the issue parties. Presentation and a discussion were planned in a format of the work meeting. This is why media was not invited to make coverage of the event.

Unfortunately, the issue was politicized and wrongfully interpreted without substantial review and study of findings of the survey; we think that it will once again hinder resolution of problems surrounding TV ratings.

It shall be noted that with the purpose of presenting issues, the TV MR Georgia Director Ms. Nino Gogoladze commented on technical inaccuracies in the text. A more detailed list of inaccuracies was submitted to IDFI in writing.

It shall also be noted that researchers used information published on TV MR Website as recommended by Ms. Nino Gogoladze before commencement of the research.

The Institute had studied proposals and comments and deems necessary to correct several errors and include relevant records in the research, namely:

• In the first edition of the research it was said that “organization’s website states that a company is a Nielsen’s official representative, however, Georgia is not mentioned on the Nielsen’s website”. We would like to explain that researchers used Nielsen’s, and not AGB Nielsen’s data. This is why the following record was added to the text in clarification: “AGB Nielsen webpage, the TV MR is mentioned as an official licensee, and Georgia is listed among licensed countries”;

• Initial edition of the research noted that “number of devices installed in Tbilisi is twice as more than devices installed in other places”. This technical discrepancy was corrected in a following manner: The issue is problematic as the number of households indicated in the evaluation pane exceeds total number of households from various regions by 16%”;

• Presentation on April 17, 2014 mentioned IPM Georgia LLC instead of IPM Monitoring LLC;

• A record in the report: “according to information obtained by us, terminals of this category are not currently installed in networks” was made based on information provided by TV MR Georgia and it has been clarified as follows: “according to TV MR Georgia, currently 197 sets of the last TVM5 generation were installed in studied households and in addition, the Company has a certain reserve, placed in the office. Those TVM5 devices measure all types of digital broadcasting”.

As to other inaccuracies indicated by TV MR Georgia, authors of the survey think that they represent expert opinion rather than factual errors. In addition, the presented changes do not change or anyhow alter conclusions and recommendations of the research.

We would like to separately speak about the link between TV MT Georgia LLC, IPM Monitoring LLC, Institute for Public Opinion and Marketing (IPM) and “Chimexim International”. We would like to stress that our research does not discuss and does not provide opinion on relationship of TV MR Georgia and corporate links of TV companies. The research speaks about mistrust towards TV MR Georgia, which might be caused by corporate connection of the TV MR Georgia founding partner with the Chemexim International, which possessed share in three TV companies by means of Holding Industrial Group of Georgia before becoming a 100% holder of IMP shares.

We would like to thank TV MR Georgia and its Director Ms. Nino Gogoladze for her comments and remarks and hope that cooperation will continue to improve TV ratings assessment process.

 Final edition of the study is available  on the link