Dritan Hoxha

{{Short description|Albanian businessman and media mogul (1968-2008)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Dritan Hoxha

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1968|10|16}}

| birth_place = Kukës, Albania

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2008|05|23|1968|09|20}}

| death_place = Tirana, Albania

| television = Top Channel

| spouse = Vjollca Hoxha

| nationality = Albanian

| children = 4

| occupation = Founder and former CEO of Top Media Group

| years_active = 1998–2008

| organization = Dritan Hoxha Media Foundation

| known_for = Pioneering figure in Albanian television, innovator in the Albanian media industry

| website = {{URL|https://fm-dritanhoxha.al/}}

}}

Dritan Hoxha ({{IPA|sq|dɾiˈtan ˈhɔdʒa|lang}}; 16 October 1968 – 23 May 2008) was an Albanian businessman, entrepreneur and media mogul, known as the founder of Top Media, Albania's largest media company.

Hoxha, who started his business career as a coffee importer for Lori Caffe, founded the Top Media group in 1998.{{Cite web|date=2008-06-10|title=vdes pronari i top channel Dritan Hoxha|url=https://virtualbania.wordpress.com/2008/06/10/vdes-pronari-i-top-channel-dritan-hoxha/|access-date=2021-11-09|website=Albanian blog|language=it}}

Early life

Dritan Hoxha was born on October 16, 1968, in Kukës,{{cite web|title=Homage to Dritan Hoxha, today is the birthday of the Albanian media genius|url=https://www.cna.al/2014/10/15/homazh-per-dritan-hoxhen-sot-ditelindja-e-gjeniut-shqiptar-te-medias|website=CNA.al|date=October 15, 2014|access-date=April 19, 2025|language=sq}} Albania. During his childhood, his family relocated to the Laprakë neighborhood in Tirana, where he spent his formative years. Hoxha began his professional journey as a coffee importer, establishing the Lori Caffe brand in 1995, which marked his initial venture into the business world.{{cite web |title=Hoxha Family |url=https://albania.mom-gmr.org/en/owners/individual-owners/detail/owner/owner/show/hoxha-family/ |website=Media Ownership Monitor Albania |access-date=2025-04-16}}

Hoxha's early involvement in commerce and his passion for technology and innovation contributed to his later work in the media industry, where he played a role in the development of private broadcasting in the country.{{cite web |title=Visionary People – Dritan Hoxha, the Albanian Jobs Creator |url=https://top-channel.tv/english/visionary-people-dritan-hoxha-the-albanian-jobs/ |website=Top Channel |access-date=2025-04-16}}

Media career

Hoxha's ventures into media began with the establishment of Top Albania Radio in 1998, which quickly grew into one of the biggest radio stations in Albania.{{Cite web |title=Top Albania Radio |url=https://albania.mom-gmr.org/en/media/detail/outlet/top-albania-radio/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Media Ownership Monitor |publisher=Balkan Investigativdme Reporting Network}} It branched into television with the founding of the broadcaster Top Channel in 2001 and the pay-TV provider DigitAlb in 2004. The growth of Hoxha's business ventures accelerated between 2004 and 2008, expanding into the news publication Shqip (2006) and the 24/7 news channel Top News (2007), as well as exclusive themed TV channels such as My Music.

In 2008, DigitAlb became the first European Platform with six High Definition Channels and the second in the world. This was a big achievement for Albania. He clashed with Prime Minister Sali Berisha over satellite broadcasting rights. Berisha fined Hoxha's group 13 million euros, but they later reached a compromise.[http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-33739820080523 Albanian media magnate dies in car crash] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728072617/https://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-33739820080523 |date=28 July 2018 }} Reuters

Top Media

On 14 February 1998, Dritan Hoxha founded the Top Media Group shortly after creating Top Albania Radio. After his death, Hoxha's family took over operations of the media enterprise.{{Cite web |title=Top Media |url=https://albania.mom-gmr.org/en/owners/companies/detail/company/company/show/top-media-3/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Media Ownership Monitor |publisher=Balkan Investigativdme Reporting Network}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! List

!Type

! Launch date

Top Albania Radio

|Radio station

14 February 1998

VGA Studio

|Television branding company

4 May 2000

Top Channel

|Television network

20 December 2001

DigitAlb

|Pay-TV provider and production company

15 July 2004

My Music

|Music television channel

2004

Gazeta Shqip

|News publication

13 March 2006

Death

On 23 May 2008, at approximately 01:50, Dritan Hoxha crashed his car, a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano with the license plate DK 3892 H, into a maple tree in a flower garden along the "Bajram Curri" Boulevard in Tirana, near the Lana River.[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/10421/ Albanian Media Mogul Dies in Road Accident] Balkan Insight{{Cite web|date=2008-05-23|title=Vdes Dritan Hoxha, pronar i Top Channel, DigitAlb dhe Lori mCaffe|url=https://mollakuqe.wordpress.com/2008/05/23/vdes-dritan-hoxha-pronari-i-top-channel-digitalb-dhe-lori-caffe/|access-date=2021-11-09|website=Molla e Kuqe|language=sq}} The car split in two and was completely destroyed upon impact. Hoxha initially survived the crash and was extracted from the vehicle a few minutes later. However, he suddenly died en route to the Tirana Military Hospital.

Awards and honors

In February 2012, the Municipality of Pristina named a street in his honor, recognizing his efforts in unifying Albanians through cross-border media initiatives.{{cite news |title=Prishtina street named after Top Channel's founder Dritan Hoxha |url=https://top-channel.tv/english/prishtina-street-named-after-top-channels-founder-dritan-hoxha/ |work=Top Channel }}
In November 2012, the city of Vlora posthumously awarded Hoxha the title of Citizen of Honour (Qytetar Nderi) during the 100th anniversary of Albanian independence, for his contributions to Albanian unity and culture through media.{{cite news |title=Vlora honours Dritan Hoxha |url=https://top-channel.tv/english/vlore-honours-dritan-hoxha/ |work=Top Channel }}
In September 2021, Marin Barleti University conferred upon him the title of Doctor Honoris Causa in recognition of his outstanding achievements in media and communication.{{cite web |title=Doctor Honoris Causa for Dritan Hoxha |url=https://umb.edu.al/en/news4921.html |work=Marin Barleti University }}
In December 2023, Hoxha was posthumously awarded the title of Grand Master (Mjeshtër i Madh) by Albanian President Bajram Begaj for his pioneering contributions to Albanian visual media.{{cite news |title=Founder of Top Media Dritan Hoxha is honored with the title of Grand Master by President Begaj |url=https://www.voxnews.al/english/aktualitet/themeluesi-i-top-media-dritan-hoxha-nderohet-me-titullin-mjeshter-i-m-i55662 |work=Vox News }}