Top Channel

Top Channel

Country	Albania
Network	Digitalb
Affiliates	Television, Radio & Online
Headquarters	Tirana, Albania
Programming
Language(s)	Albanian
Ownership
Owner	Top Media
Parent	Top Media Group

Top Channel is a commercial television station with national frequency coverage in Tirana, Albania founded by media mogul Dritan Hoxha, and part of Top Media Group. Since September 2003, Top Channel became present on satellite broadcasting all over Europe through DigitAlb, and North America through Home2US. The channel is available through IPTV in Europe and North America, and through local cable in Switzerland. In January 2008, Top Channel was awarded a national frequency coverage license, making it the fourth such a channel in Albania. The channel holds itself as being at the edge of technological innovation. It is available in 16:9 Widescreen "High Definition" Television. One of Full HD programs is Portokalli.

History

Top Channel began experimental broadcasts on 30 July 2001 in the International Center for Culture (Qendra Ndërkombëtare e Kulturës), also known as the Pyramid or former Mausoleum of Enver Hoxha along Rruga Papa Gjon Pali II. Since then it has seen a very fast growth and success as it has become preferable by a growing number of people.

As of 2006, it is believed that Top Channel held an average viewing rate of 70%, though these are based on approximate evaluations of various experts and not officially confirmed. Based on a survey in 2003, Top Channel was ranked as the most watched TV channel in Albania with 50 % of the national audience, thus leaving far behind the second watched TV which accounted only for 17 %. In an earlier survey (2002) it has been ranked in third place with 11.9%, right behind the public broadcaster TVSH. Its success relates to its informational programs about the problems that Albanian society is facing, as well as to the comparatively high technology by which it operates. Also other media outlets making up Top Media include Top Albania Radio, Top Gold Radio, the daily newspaper Shqip, and part of the pay TV platform DigitAlb.

In the past years it has also sought partnership with international development agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF, IOM, OSCE, USAID, Albanian and French Red Cross, and many others, and sustains partnership with international private companies such as Vodafone. In addition, Top Channel has seen growing partnership with international news agencies such as Reuters in exchanging news coverage.

Vjollca Hoxha, wife of Dritan Hoxha, has taken over the business since 2008.

Principles

The channel's most important principals, according to its homepage, are:

• accuracy
• impartiality (disputed)
• analysis and commentary
• sound tone of moderation and respect (disputed)
• ethical conduct (disputed)
• high speed of information

Their motto is : Lajmi më parë kalon tek ne (The news, at first passes through us).

Programmes

Top Channel's programmes include a broad range of shows, news editions, social and economic programs and entertainments (movies, sports etc.). Most of the programs are pre-recorded. Scheduled domestic and foreign programming include:

High-Definition Programs

Original name	Format
Portokalli	Sitcom
Big Brother Albania	Reality-Show
E Diell	Sunday show
100 Milionë	Quiz Show
Top Fest	Albanian Modern Music Festival
The Voice of Albania	Singing competition

Nationally created shows currently broadcast by Top Channel (as of February 2011)

Original name	Format
Fiks Fare
Exclusive	inquiry program
Shqip	current affairs
E Diell	Sunday show
Pasdite ne Top Channel	talk show
Top Show	talk show
Portokalli	stand-up comedy
Deja Vu	talk show
Top Story	political magazine
Newsroom	weekly news magazine
Wake up	morning show
Select	youth magazine
Procesi Sportiv	sports magazine
Big Brother Albania	reality show
Albanians Got Talent	talent show
Albania's Next Top Model	reality show
100 milionë - The money drop	game show
The voice of Albania	talent show

Internationally created shows currently broadcast by Top Channel (as of May 2008)

Original name	Albanian translation	Origin
Smallville	Smallville	United States
The Sopranos	Sopranot
Friends	Friends
24	24 Orë
Lost	Të humbur
Desperate Housewives	Shtëpiake të dëshpëruara
El Rostro de Analia	Fytyra e Analias
Ghosts	Fantazmat
SpongeBob SquarePants	SpongeBob SquarePants
Centovetrine	100 Vitrinat	Italy
Squadra Antimafia-Palermo oggi 1	Skuadra antimafia-Palermo sot 1
Attacco Allo Stato	Shënjestër Politike
Paraiso Tropical	Parajsë tropikale	Brazil
Footballers' Wives	Gratë e Futbollistëve	United Kingdom

Programming Highlights

News bulletins and reportages

This includes mainly the daily news about the political, economical, cultural, and social enronment in Albania. The programs also provide information regarding the main events occurring in every part of the world.

Fiks Fare

Fiks Fare is a criticizing and problem-raising show, which through humor and satire denounces the negative aspects of life such as corruption, fraud, law-breaking by high rank officials, human rights violations, country development issues and many other like problems. The popularity of this program and its simple language in addressing problematic issues of Albanian society has proven to be a significant mean of raising awareness and many times leading to solution of most evident drawbacks of the ongoing transition of the country. This program is broadcasted every day of the week immediately after the main news edition. Saimir Kodra, the co-host of the show ran for becoming a member of the parliament but lost the elections.

Shqip

Shqip is the flagship program shown on Top Channel TV on Mondays. The one hour live interview is the result of detailed research and investigations. The program host asks the difficult questions and gets behind the stories that make the news in the country - from political leaders to intellectuals and decision-makers facing huge challenges. Shqip reports the events and interviews on politics development, security and social issues. According to a survey conducted in 2003 by the International Research & Exchanges Board, Shqip was ranked as the most watched TV program of the same kind and thus gained some of the highest peak audience in the country.

Top Show

Top Show is a talk show enriched by various entertaining elements. Every day the program invites six to eight individuals from various areas of art, politics, business and civil society who discuss the hottest topics concerning the Albanian society. The forum of discussion touches sensitive subjects such as poverty, prostitution, corruption, family life, emigration, male domination and other events in sports and music. Diversity of opinions and debate between different individuals invited gives the show a specific point of view. The involvement of public in discussions is well thought by organizers who pay attention to keep the conversation flow focused on the subject. Top Show airs every night from Tuesday till Thursday at 23.00 hours.

Portokalli

Main article: Portokalli

Portokalli is a weekly night sketch comedy and variety show filmed in Tirana in front of a live audience. The format of the show includes stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, and live music making the show similar to the "NBC" show "Saturday Night Live". Portokalli is known to make fun of everyday problems through humor and satire. It also makes fun of political figures such as Sali Berisha, Edi Rama, Hashim Thaçi, Ramush Haradinaj and others. Portokalli reaches an audience of many ages through young and old.

See also

• Communications in Albania
• Dritan Hoxha
• Radio Televizioni Shqiptar

External links

• www.top-channel.tv