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| Type | Public broadcasting |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Availability | Worldwide |
| Headquarters | Rruga Ismail Qemali 11, 1010,Tirana, Albania |
| Owner | Albanian State |
Key people | Aurora Polo (Acting General director) |
Launch date | 28 November 1938; 86 years ago (1938-11-28)(radio) 29 April 1960; 64 years ago (1960-04-29)(television) |
Former names | Radiodifuzioni Shqiptar |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
Official website | rtsh |
Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (Albanian:[ˈɾadiɔtɛlɛviziˈɔniʃcipˈtaɾ]; English:"Albanian Radio and Television"; mostly calledRTSH[ɾətəˈʃə]) is the nationalpublic broadcasting company ofAlbania. Founded in 1938, it operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite. The international television servicevia satellite RTSH Sat (formerTVSH Sat) was launched in 1993 and is aimed atAlbanian-speaking communities inKosovo,Serbia,North Macedonia,Montenegro, and northernGreece, plus the Albaniandiaspora in the rest ofEurope. RTSH is funded by a combination of commercial advertising, an annuallicence fee of US$10.00[1] and grant-in-aid from the Albanian government.
There are 12 TV channels in the first multiplexer and 11 radio channels. RTSH also runs a Satellite Multiplexer with 7 channels. RTSH 1 is the flagship generalist channel. RTSH 2 is dedicated niche communities, including cultural and ethnic minorities, broadcasting news editions in Greek, Montenegrin and Aromanian. RTSH 3 is dedicated to Albanians living abroad. RTSH also has dedicated channels, for news (RTSH-24), sports, music, children, etc. In addition, four regional radio and TV stations serve local areas inGjirokastër,Korçë,Shkoder, andKukës.
The international radio service broadcasts radio programmes in Albanian and seven other languages via Internet Radio, Radio on the Satellite and on OTT with an App for both iOS and Android.Medium wave (AM) andshort wave (SW) broadcasts were switched off in 2017.[2]
The broadcaster is an active member of theEuropean Broadcasting Union.[3] It organises the music competitionFestivali i Këngës, which has been broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1962. Since 2003, Festivali i Këngës has also determinedAlbania's representative in theEurovision Song Contest.
The beginnings of RTSH date to the creation of Radio Tirana on 28 November 1938. The first Albanian radio station was launched byKing Zog I (1895–1961) andQueen Geraldine Apponyi (1915–2002) in a ceremony at the former building of the Municipality ofTirana.
A year earlier, a shortwavetransmitter with a power of 3 kW at 40 meters was put in operation in Laprake (Tirana) and intended mainly for communication, but was also used to broadcast 3 hours of programmes per day. The first broadcast consisted ofchoral singing, where Jorgji Truja and Marije Kraja sang an introductory piece, followed by the unique timbre of Kaliopi Nushi's voice who pronounced the following phrase: "Mirëdita, kjo është Radio Tirana" (English: Good day, this is Radio Tirana). This officially marked the first broadcast of Radio Tirana. In 1987, 66 hours of programmes were broadcast in 20 foreign languages every day.[4]
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In 1959, Radio Tirana's director by that time, Petro Kita, founded the first Experimental Television Centre to provide the basis for the latter Albanian television, TVSH. With equipments from the USSR and East Germany,[5] the first test programme was held on 29 April 1960, at 6:00 pm and was introduced by the journalist Stoli Beli. The official launch was set for 1 May 1960. Children movies and then adults’ programmes were broadcast, three times a week for about one hour.[6] Television programs were regularly launched by 1971.[7] Color broadcasts started in 1981, and became regular by 1982. In 2002 TVSH ranked second with an audience share of 17.1%. The second channel, TVSH 2, began experimental broadcasts in 2003. In 2012, several digital only channels were launched by RTSH.
Despite the country's small size and isolationist policies, Radio Tirana was a fairly major international broadcaster during theCold War. Its programmes had a reputation for being little more than dull propaganda.
During Albania's alliance with China in the 1960s and 1970s, Radio Tirana had to walk a fine line between being anti-West whilst also being anti-Soviet. As such, Radio Tirana kept close to the official policy of thePeople's Republic of China, which was also both anti-West and anti-Soviet whilst still being socialist in tone.
Polish CommunistKazimierz Mijal (1910–2010) broadcast his radical opinions in Polish 1966–1978.
During the 1970s, the station broadcast to Europe on 1214 kHz, causing interference problems for the BritishBBC Radio One on the same frequency. During the 1980s and early 1990s the international service was broadcast on 1395 kHz (along with various short wave frequencies) and was received throughout Europe during the evening and through the night. Radio Tirana also upset manyamateur radio operators in Europe by operating transmitters in the 7 MHz (40 metre) amateur band.
In 1985, it broadcast only 2.5 hours per day. It opened at 20:00 and closed at 22:30. Later, in 1986, it broadcast each day for 4 hours, from 17:00 to 18:30 and 20:00 to 22:30. Most of the programming during the communist era consisted of propaganda and news programs.
Political programming predominated during this period. Features includedMarxism-Leninism – an Ever-Young and Scientific Doctrine andSocialism and the Youth. The featureLeafing Through the Marxist-Leninist Press reviewed the journals of foreign communist parties allied to theAlbanian Party of Labour. Other programs includedIntroducing You To Albania,Leafing Through Our Listeners' Letters,Culture and Art in Socialist Albania andThe Song of Our Life. Radio Tirana also presented irregular programs of revolutionary music from around the world, while the programmeWhat We Saw in Socialist Albania offered interviews with foreign visitors to Albania.
Theinterval signal of Radio Tirana during this period was the first few bars of the Albanian revolutionary songWith a Pickaxe in One Hand and a Rifle in the Other (Albanian:Në njërën dorë kazmën në tjetrën pushkën). This song also served as the signature tune of Radio Tirana's foreign language broadcasts. The pickaxe and rifle were part of the logo of Albanian Radio-Television during this period, and can be seen in the above photograph.
During the last months of the socialist era, overtly political programming was drastically scaled down, and the long-established practice of playing "The Internationale" at the end of each broadcast was abandoned.[8]
A similarideological battle took place on the television spectrum. The neighbouring TV signals of ItalianRAI and YugoslavRTV Titograd were particularly affected. During the 1960s, RAI was received in Tirana in decent quality. As time passed, the signal was strengthened by RTSH atMount Dajti transmitter site only to broadcast the day's main news bulletin (TG1), films, and children's programmes. It is observed that in the news program, reports containing music concerts andpapal activities, or even regular commercial spots were jammed. A similar phenomenon occurred with RTV Titograd's frequencies.
After the fall of the communist system, Albania's TV frequencies started to be filled by a variety of Western broadcasters: from RAI toCNN International.
Radio Tirana is widely seen as a symbol representingAlbanian culture in the world. Through its educational, cultural, and informative programs broadcast nationally and internationally, Radio Tirana has played a major role in the transmission of Albanian people's cultural values. The station served as the first academy of Albanian literal language as in its archive can be found interesting historical artefacts such as a speech made byFan Stilian Noli or the voice of Albanian arts' ambassador,Alexander Moissi. Furthermore, it served as a venue on which emerging Albanian artists first showcased their talents later becoming icons. The voices ofTefta Tashko-Koço, Marije Kraja, Kristaq Koço, Viktori Xhaçka and many others were first heard in the station's studios. In addition, Albanian personalities such as renowned actor Reshat Arbana, singer Vaçe Zela and Dr. Sulçebeg hosted the most popular programs.
RTSH has dominated the Albanian broadcasting field up to the middle of the 1990s, a period whenprivately owned radio and television stations started to occupy the vast empty Albanian frequencies resulting in a gradual brain-drain. Lured by higher wages and not only, numerous experienced journalists and employees left the broadcaster for the new media outlets. For instance, Albania's current popular political talk shows such asOpinion by Blendi Fevziu, formerlyE Diela Debat, orFokus by Robert Papa, can track their beginnings at RTSH. Despite the brain-drain, the institution has held a leader's position in the production of programs pertaining to civics, education and science.
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One of the post-communist programs leaving a lasting impression was that of talented show-man Adi Krasta, entitledRreth Fatit për 12-Javë. The show was embedded in a national lottery, something unseen before in Albania and ran onprimetime state television for about five hours non-stop in addition to offering tunes of famous American song ballads such asI've Had The Time Of My Life byBill Medley andJennifer Warnes, and hit songAuberge byChris Rea. In addition, American actor of Albanian descentJames Belushi offered his salutations to the Albanian people from the United States in the program through an exclusive interview. Other impressive programs included12 vallzime pa nje te shtune, Miss Albania, and musical productions from Leonard Bombaj.
The broadcaster is known for producing high qualitydocumentaries on Albanian national heritage topics such as important personalities, surveys of Albanian historic regions, and geographic landscapes. The theatre on the screen segment features theatre performances of past years both in the drama and comedy genres. Another well-known production is the Hapesire e Blerte, an agricultural show, a long lasting programme entirely dedicated to the Albanian agricultural scene and countryside. Another important highlight is the year-end festive concert show, a yearly television program styled as a celebration of the new year where a variety of humorous sketches are conducted by talentedcomedy troupes from across Albania.
Up to the early 2000s, the journalistic field was represented by experienced iconic personalities such as news anchors Tefta Radi, Roland Roshi, Arben Kamberi, Reiz Çiço, and Arben Mevlani. The broadcaster also has exclusive coverage of daily and special proceedings of theParliament of Albania.
In 1997, in Albania, educational institutions were temporarily shut down due tothe civil unrest. As a result, RTSH broadcast instructional programs for the barricaded youth, that made for a substitute to regular instruction. RTSH is known also for the vast number of shows for children and adolescents produced each year.
In 1999, journalists of RTV Pristina were obliged to fleePristina as the situation in Kosovowas escalating. They took temporal refuge in RTSH by anchoring specific news bulletins on their region's situation.[citation needed]
RTSH owns and operates a vast number of transmitter sites throughout the country such as the Fushe Dajt and Dajt 1613m stations atMount Dajt in the periphery of Tirana. As such, a number of Western radio and TV broadcasters lease the sites to broadcast their ownfeeds since the 1990s.
On May 6, 2016, RTSH appointed Thoma Gëllçi as Director General as the position had been vacant for years.[9] On 8 October 2021, Mr Gëllçi was detained by the Albanian Special Court on Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) for alleged corruption in procurement and public tender processes.[10][11] His request to be released while his appeal is pending was approved by the court on 30 August 2022.[12]
ABalkan Insight investigation found that RTSH, despite its statutory duty to be impartial, was one of the many local broadcasters which gave disproportionate coverage to the rulingSocialist Party of Albania during the campaign for the2021 Albanian parliamentary election.[13]
| Logo | Channel | HD | Broadcast | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
.svg) | RTSH 1 |  | Digital terrestrial television | generalist. Launched in 1960. |
.svg) | RTSH 2 | | Digital terrestrial television | generalist primarily focused on minorities. Launched in 2003. |
.svg) | RTSH 3 |  | Digital terrestrial television Satellite | generalist primarily focused on the diaspora. |
.svg) | RTSH Film | | Digital terrestrial television | International movies and series. |
.svg) | RTSH Muzikë | | Digital terrestrial television Satellite | Albanian and international music, culture, shows. Launched in 2012. |
.svg) | RTSH Shqip | | Digital terrestrial television Satellite | Albanian movies, culture, and shows. |
.svg) | RTSH Shkollë | | Digital terrestrial television Satellite | Albanian and international kids and teen programming. Launched in 2020. |
.svg) | RTSH Fëmijë | | Digital terrestrial television | Albanian and international kids programming. Launched in 2018. |
.svg) | RTSH Sport | | Digital terrestrial television | Sports. Launched in 2012. |
.svg) | RTSH Plus | | Digital terrestrial television Satellite | Albanian culture, shows, and music. |
.svg) | RTSH 24 | | Digital terrestrial television Satellite | 24/7 news channel. |
.svg) | RTSH Agro | | Digital terrestrial television | Agriculture, travel, and tourism. |
| RTSH Satelit | | Satellite | RTSH 1 encrypted programming on satellite. | |
.svg) | RTSH Kuvend | | Digital terrestrial television | Live parliament broadcasts only. |
| Regional channels | ||||
.svg) | RTSH Gjirokastra | | Digital terrestrial television | Local television covering theGjirokastër area and its surroundings. |
.svg) | RTSH Korça | | Digital terrestrial television | Local television covering theKorçë area and its surroundings. |
.svg) | RTSH Kukësi | | Digital terrestrial television | Local television covering theKukës area and its surroundings. |
| RTSH Shkodra | | Digital terrestrial television | Local television covering theShkodër area and its surroundings. | |
In 2017, RTSH launched "RTSH Tani" an app which enables users of Android and iOS to watch all the channels from the RTSH digital platform including the regional channels such as RTSH Korça. In addition, the app enables users to watch catch up TV content from the last 7 days for all 9 channels.[14] In recent years, the app has not been functional while the online streaming is unreliable. Therefore, the only way to watch these channels outside of Albania is via satellite in Europe only, or only select channels through DigitAlb, Tring TV or the Klani IM app.
| Original name | Format | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Revista televizive | Central News Bulletin | Albania |
| Hapësirë e Blertë | Agricultural affairs | Albania |
| Rubrika Sportive | Sport show | Albania |
| E Hëna Sportive | Sport show | Albania |
| Më prit në fundjavë | Weekend show | Albania |
| E diela jonë | Sunday show | Albania |
| Trupi dhe shëndeti | Health show | Albania |
| Mirëmëngjes Shqipëri | Morning show | Albania |
| Ditë të mbarë | Morning show | Albania |
| Festivali i Këngës | Song contest | Albania |
| Java në RTSH | Political talk show | Albania |
| Auditor Arsimi | Instruction talk show | Albania |
| Art and Art | Musical show | Albania |
| Bibliotekë | Literature show | Albania |
| Autor | Documentary show | Albania |
| Në tempull | Cultural show | Albania |
| Ditë pas dite | Cultural show | Albania |
| Më prit në fundjavë | Cultural show | Albania |
| Kosherja | Cultural show | Albania |
| Artes | Cultural talk show | Albania |
| Përballë | Political talk show | Albania |
| Dimensioni 4 | Instruction talk show | Albania |
| Title | Origin |
|---|---|
| Voice of America | United States |
| The Mentalist | United States |
| Millennium | Sweden |
| Person of Interest | United States[15] |
| The Closer | United States[16] |
| Hallo Robbie! | Germany |
| SOKO Wismar | Germany |
| Dos Vidas | Spain |
| Fuller House | United States |
| Sanremo Music Festival | Italy[17] |
| Eurovision Song Contest | Europe |
| Junior Eurovision Song Contest | Europe |
| Title | Origin |
|---|---|
| Rreth Nesh | Albania |
| Te mesojme me ogin | Albania |
| Go Astro Boy Go! | Japan |
| Ben 10: Ultimate Alien | United States |
| Ben 10 | United States |
| Jurassic Cubs | Italy |
| The Black Corsair | Italy |
| Zig & Sharko | France |
| What's with Andy? | France |
| Kung Fu Dino Posse | Canada |
| Timmy Time | United Kingdom |
| Shaun the Sheep | United Kingdom |
The broadcasting quality of Radio Tirana has gradually improved throughout the years. After theSecond World War, noticeable improvements were observed in Albania's coverage with signal. Improvements were also noted in the external service, as the radio centre of Shijak (Durrës) was opened in November 1961 equipped with 3 transmitters, 2 in shortwave intended for the external service.
In December 1965, a new building of Radio Tirana was inaugurated. During the upcoming years, a combined total of 18 medium and short wave transmitters were installed, part of which carried Radio Tirana's external service programmes for many years.
In 2003, an attractive TV news room studio was created, and the TV (TVSH) signal onVHF band in Tirana was strengthened. TVSH became available also onUHF and experimental broadcasts of the second TV channelTVSH 2 were initiated. Later, screen graphics experienced an extreme makeover. The FM channel in the capital at 99,5 MHz was put onStereo, and the second radio program was expanded to 24 hours a day.
In 2007, RTSH launched its official webpage with dailynews briefs and a variety of information on its services. The online stream of Radio Tirana 3 was launched on 28 November 2008 by the German Radio 700 team while the Radio Tirana 1 stream was launched in January 2009.
In 2011, RTSH launched live streaming of the 50th edition of Festivali i Kenges, by possibly marking the first time that RTSH launched an online streaming video service in its history.
In 2012, RTSH started broadcasting in HD. In 2013, RTSH launched four specialty channels including: RTSH HD, RTSH Muzikë, RTSH Art, RTSH Sport. By far, RTSH holds a monopoly in rural areas where its signal dominates airwaves.
In 2017, RTSH launched three additional channels including: RTSH Fëmijë (featuring children's programming) and RTSH Kuvend, a channel dedicated toKuvendi, the Albanian Parliament and RTSH 24.
In recent years, RTSH has upgraded TV studios and broadcasting equipment, launched a number of digital TV channels, added live online TV and radio streams, and has uploaded TV programs on YouTube.
Their old YouTube channel with dozens of videos was shut down in June 2021, losing historical documentaries and a new one was created which holds archives, the news chronics, and especially radio Tirana podcasts.
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