Producers and Editors Leave Radio Hot Chocolate

Two editors and two producers left Radio Hot Chocolate (FM 98.5).  5 June Radio Chief Editor Nana Sajaia, Chief Producer Dato Kanchashvili, New Service Producer Nino Robakidze and web editor Pata Shamugia left their jobs. 

“In the process of radio reorganization, in the new concept we did not see ourselves.  We believe we cannot work in the type of radio that they are planning to create; that is why we decided to leave,” Nino Robakidze told media.ge. 

For the moment only one anchor Levan Akhalaia, two journalists and cut-editors remain in the radio. 

Management of the Media House Decom LLC, Radio Hot Chocolate managing company startedreorganization of the radio that was launched two months ago, last week.  5 journalists were dismissed from jobs right away. 

According to Shorena Shaverdashvili, Hot Chocolate co-owner, reorganization in the radio started after owner of 50% of its shares, representative of German Company Vidophone Konstantine (Koka) Togonidze left the Company and the radio was handed over for management to the rest of the owners – Shorena Shaverdashvili, Ketevan Babunashvili and Shalva Chubinidze. 

“Koka was managing the radio until now.  He changed his plans and handed the radio over to us, although he will execute his obligations; I mean allocating investments.  This does not mean we have financial problems; Vidophone may not even leave the ownership,” Shorena Shaverdashvili told media.ge.  According to her, Shaverdashvili, Babunashvili and Chubinidze make decisions in relation to the radio. 

Hot Chocolate owners have not changed legally and according to Business Registry data Vidophone still owns 50% of its shares. 

It is not yet known how the radio will look after reorganization.  Hot Chocolate holds general broadcasting license and is obliged to insure program diversity. 

According to Shorena Shaverdashvili, the given obligation has always been fulfilled and will be fulfilled in future. 

“We must conceptually change the radio the way that it becomes more unique, interesting and coincide more with its brand – Hot Chocolate,” Shaverdashvili stressed. 

“We started everything from zero.  By license requirements we had to launch broadcasting within six months, which we did.  Changes in the radio are a working process and we have not violated any conditions,” Shaverdashvili stated. 

Radio Hereti, which was one of the competitors of Hot Chocolate in the license winning contest claims that Hot Chocolate violated license requirements and the Georgian National Communications Commission must suspend its license.  Despite the given claim by Hereti, the Press-Secretary of the GNCC Khatia Kurashvili told media.ge that the GNCC has not detected any violation in the activities of the Hot Chocolate yet.   

Radio Hot Chocolate was granted the private general radio broadcasting license at 98.5 FM frequencyafter winning the Georgian National Communications Commission contest on 30 September 2011.  According to license conditions the radio must air its contest throughout Tbilisi during 24 hours.  By the same conditions the program diversity, including airing of newscasts must also be insured. Hot Chocholate was first aired on 31 March 2012.

Nata Dzvelishvili, Media.ge