As part of the project to relocate the Georgian Public Broadcaster to a new building, the scientific and technical processing of the Public Broadcaster’s archival documents has been completed, following an agreement signed with the National Archives of Georgia.

Radio broadcasting in Georgia began in 1925, and in 2025, the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of this historic event. Television broadcasting followed in 1956. Over the decades, the First Channel has preserved a unique collection of radio and television recordings, known as the Golden Fund. In addition to these valuable audiovisual materials, the organization’s archive also includes extensive documentary records generated throughout the history of Georgian television and radio.

“The relocation project involves complex work across multiple areas, including the systematization of the organization’s documentary archive and its relocation in line with modern archival standards. These documents are just as important a part of the organization’s history as its audiovisual materials. The GPB First Channel and the National Archives of Georgia have successfully collaborated on several projects over the years. As always, the National Archives team approached this initiative with exceptional professionalism and dedication, for which we are truly grateful,” said Tinatin Berdzenishvili, General Director of the GPB First Channel.

The documents in the Public Broadcaster’s archive have been processed and categorized in line with the organizational changes throughout the history of Georgian Television and Radio. These include materials produced by the State Committee of Georgian Television and Radio Broadcasting, the State Corporation Georgian Telefilm, the Joint Stock Company Georgian Television and Radio Broadcasting, and the LEPL Georgian Public Broadcaster.

Within the project, permanent and long-term storage records were identified, files were systematized, and catalogues were prepared to meet modern archival standards, ensuring efficient search and further processing. In total, the National Archives processed 63,220 archival files. This includes 11,831 permanent storage units documenting the core activities of the Public Broadcaster from the 1960s to 2018, as well as 9,156 personnel files dating from the 1950s to 2018, which include personal records of employees and documents related to their social rights.

This project holds special significance for both the Public Broadcaster and the National Archives of Georgia. Over the years, the First Channel has preserved valuable documentation about prominent figures in Georgian history who worked in radio and television, contributing to the unique materials stored in the Golden Fund.