Georgians panic over mock TV news report of Russian invasion

[Kshasty]

A Georgian television station sparked panic throughout Georgia on Saturday by broadcasting a fake news item about a supposed invasion of Russian troops and murder of President Mikheil Saakashvili.

The program, called Special Report, was shown on the private Imedi TV channel on Saturday evening.

The broadcast, which used the channel's normal news graphics, began with a warning that the program showed a sequence of possible events that could occur "if Georgian society is not brought together against Russia's plans."

"We start the broadcast on account of the dangers that politicians and experts systematically discuss," the presenter said ahead of a news item about the supposed invasion and murder of Saakashvili.

The news item included clips of panicked residents trying to flee Tbilisi and reported that there was panic in Gori, Mtskheta and other regions.

The staged images and words rung true, however, when viewers who did not see the introduction took the report at face value. People from all over the country began to call each other and the TV studio to find out what was really happening.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20100313/158186479.html

[verges]

1. Dear god,

I thought you meant US Georgia.

[lostinseganet1]

3. lol

We would be see pearl harbor part 2 in the making, but OBAMA has to pass health care so he wont even try to lead for at least a month :)

[Beartracks]

2. Remember "The Day After" TV movie?

Although when that was broadcast I think they just made up a fake news network and graphics, not actually mirroring the networks. However, the network that was actually airing that made-for-TV movie put a warning in every commercial break -- I think. I recall my Grandma thinking it was real, and that was even after it was over -- so maybe they didn't have warnings.

Granddaddy of them all: Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast.

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