The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has leased TV-33 as part of its campaign to promote the army, MoD spokesperson Nana Intskirveli has confirmed.

“We want to popularize issues related to the military and army,” Intskirveli told Civil.Ge on May 10.

TV-33 will be aired on a frequency which once was owned by Tbilisi-based 202 television station, which has been closed down.

The Georgian daily Rezonansi reported on May 10 that the new TV company will be located in the same high rise building that Rustavi 2 TV occupies. 

It will be the second state-affiliated TV project after Alania TV, which was launched in late 2005 to reach out to people in breakaway South Ossetia.

Promotion of the armed forces, the reserves and patriotic themes has been a priority of the authorities.

Georgian television stations have recently been running advertisements calling for young people to join the reserves.

Rustavi 2 TV is also currently running a military reality-show wherein participants undergo military training and compete to win GEL 40,000(about USD 23,000).