Second Channel

Second Channel was a Georgian public television service operated by the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB). The channel originated in 1971 during the Soviet period, when it was established as an extension of state television broadcasting in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. It supplemented Georgia's original First Channel, which had begun broadcasting in 1956, and continued using the same broad public-broadcasting infrastructure after Georgia became independent. For much of its history, the service functioned as an additional public television outlet rather than as a narrowly defined commercial channel. Its programming role included alternative and supplementary content, public-affairs discussion, minority-language broadcasting, and extensive live coverage of sessions of the Georgian Parliament. This gave the channel an institutional and civic profile distinct from a conventional entertainment network. Its importance lay partly in providing access to political proceedings and public debate that could not be accommodated fully on the principal First Channel. The channel's identity changed substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic. On 26 March 2020, GPB announced that it would convert the service to an all-educational format. The change took effect on 30 March 2020, when the channel adopted the name First Channel - Education, also rendered in English as First Channel - Teleschool. The reorientation was intended to support distance learning while schools and other educational institutions were affected by pandemic restrictions. It represented a shift from a general supplementary public channel toward a dedicated educational television service. On 17 December 2023, GPB announced that the channel would be shut down as part of a restructuring plan connected with the broadcaster's move to new headquarters in 2024. After the shutdown, the service was officially relaunched in 2024 under the First Channel Sport identity. Some television providers continued to identify the outlet as Second Channel or First Channel Teleschool, reflecting the persistence of legacy channel names in distribution systems. Accordingly, Second Channel is best understood as a historical and transitional brand within Georgia's public broadcasting system. Its institutional lineage runs from Soviet-era secondary broadcasting through post-independence public-service programming, pandemic-era educational broadcasting, and a subsequent sports-oriented relaunch. The available reference material does not establish a single continuing status for the legacy Second Channel name after the 2024 transition.

Second Channel traces its institutional origins to 1971, when it was established during the Soviet era as an additional television service in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. It operated alongside Georgia's original First Channel, which had started broadcasting in 1956. The service therefore emerged as part of a state television structure in which multiple channels served different programming and distribution functions. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the restoration of Georgia's independence, the frequency and service continued under successive state and public-broadcasting arrangements. It ultimately became part of the Georgian Public Broadcaster. Rather than functioning primarily as a commercial entertainment network, the channel developed a supplementary public-service role. Its output included alternative programming, public discussions, minority-language broadcasts, and substantial live coverage of Georgian parliamentary sessions. These functions made it a useful outlet for political transparency, civic information, and content not always carried by the principal First Channel. The channel underwent its most significant programming transformation in 2020. On 26 March of that year, GPB announced that it would be converted into an all-educational service as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversion took effect on 30 March, under the name First Channel - Education; the service was also known as First Channel - Teleschool. The format change aligned the channel with distance-learning needs at a time when ordinary classroom education was disrupted. It replaced the earlier mixed public-service identity with a more focused educational mission. The educational identity remained in use until a further restructuring. On 17 December 2023, GPB announced the channel's shutdown as part of a broader plan associated with organizational changes and the broadcaster's move to new headquarters in 2024. The service was subsequently relaunched in 2024 as First Channel Sport. This was not simply a continuation of the former general-purpose Second Channel brand, but a new positioning within the public broadcaster's channel portfolio. Nevertheless, some television providers continued to display the older Second Channel or First Channel Teleschool labels, leaving legacy naming in circulation after the transition. The history of the service thus comprises several distinct phases: a Soviet-era secondary television outlet, a post-independence public channel known for civic and parliamentary programming, a pandemic-era educational channel, and a sports-oriented successor. Because the available reference material does not provide a definitive operational statement for the legacy name after the 2024 relaunch, the status of Second Channel as a standalone current brand is recorded as unknown.

• 2024

  Relaunch as First Channel Sport

  [1]First Channel — Teleschoolen.wikipedia.org

  After the shutdown, the service was officially relaunched with a sports-oriented identity. Legacy names remained visible on some television-provider systems.

• 2023

  Shutdown announced

  [1]First Channel — Teleschoolen.wikipedia.org

  GPB announced on 17 December that the channel would be shut down as part of a restructuring plan linked to a move to new headquarters in 2024.

• 2020

  Conversion to First Channel - Education

  [1]First Channel — Teleschoolen.wikipedia.org

  GPB announced the conversion on 26 March, and the all-educational format began on 30 March in response to COVID-19-related disruption to conventional schooling.

• 1971

  Second Channel is established

  [1]First Channel — Teleschoolen.wikipedia.org

  A second television service was established during the Soviet era as an extension of state television broadcasting in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.

• 1956

  First Channel begins operations

  [1]First Channel — Teleschoolen.wikipedia.org

  Georgia's original First Channel began broadcasting, providing the institutional predecessor and companion service against which the later Second Channel was established.

A supplementary public-service television channel within Georgia's national broadcaster, historically emphasizing civic information, parliamentary coverage, minority-language content, and alternative programming. During 2020–2023 it was repositioned as an educational channel, and in 2024 it transitioned to a sports-oriented successor identity.

• Public television channel · 1971

  Second Channel

  The historical supplementary channel of Georgia's public broadcasting system. Its programming role included alternative public-service content, public debates, minority-language broadcasts, and extensive live coverage of Georgian parliamentary sessions. The service originated in 1971 and later underwent major identity and format changes.

• Educational television · 2020

  First Channel - Education

  The all-educational format adopted by the channel in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also associated with the First Channel - Teleschool name, it was designed to provide televised educational support while ordinary schooling was disrupted.

• Sports television · 2024

  First Channel Sport

  The sports-oriented successor identity under which the service was relaunched in 2024 following the announced shutdown of the earlier channel. The available reference material does not specify its detailed programming slate or independent corporate structure.

• 2023

  Shut down the channel as part of GPB restructuringStrategy

  Background

  GPB's restructuring plan was connected with the broadcaster's move to new headquarters in 2024.

  Action taken

  On 17 December 2023, GPB announced that the channel would be shut down.

  Aftermath

  The service was subsequently relaunched in 2024 as First Channel Sport, although some providers retained legacy channel labels.

  Source

• 2020

  Convert the channel to an all-educational formatStrategy

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted ordinary education and increased demand for distance-learning services. GPB announced the conversion on 26 March 2020.

  Action taken

  The channel was renamed First Channel - Education, also known as First Channel - Teleschool, and began all-educational broadcasting on 30 March 2020.

  Aftermath

  The channel operated under an educational identity until the later restructuring and transition to First Channel Sport.

  Source

1. 1First Channel — Teleschoolen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Second Channel official website2tv.ge