The First Channel of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) has issued a statement regarding the broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In 2023, the GPB expressed interest in acquiring the World Cup license and initiated formal negotiations through a closed FIFA tender process, allowing interested broadcasters to participate.

The GPB First Channel entered the tender under the auspices of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which facilitates bidding on behalf of various European countries, including Georgia.

The GPB First Channel applied as a unified broadcaster encompassing television, radio, and digital platforms, with the goal of securing exclusive rights to all matches via both terrestrial (DVBT2) and satellite distribution.

The initial bid submitted by the channel was 61% higher than the cost of the 2022 World Cup license. During the negotiation process, the broadcaster increased its offer by an additional 20%, ultimately doubling its initial bid. Despite these efforts, FIFA awarded the broadcasting rights to a private platform that acquired the license for several countries in the region, including Georgia.

Currently, negotiations are ongoing with the rights-holder regarding a sublicensing agreement for free-to-air broadcasting in Georgia, but no final decision has been reached yet.