Top Channel

{{More sources|section|date=June 2025}}File:The_pyramid_of_Tirana_back_view_07.jpg]]

Plans for Top Channel began in the year 2000, just two years after the foundation of Top Albania Radio. Top Channel began experimental broadcasts on 30 July 2001 at the Pyramid of Tirana. Since then it has seen a very fast growth and success as it has become preferable by a growing number of people through the qualitative level of broadcasting technology and programs.

Top Channel started broadcasts on 20 December 2001, and very quickly it became a generalist TV channel.

In 2003, a survey ranked Top Channel as the most watched TV channel in Albania with 50% of the national audience, thus leaving far behind the second watched station which accounted for 17%. One year earlier, it was ranked in third place with 11.9% behind the public broadcaster TVSH. Its success relates to its informational programs about the problems that Albanian society faces, as well as to the comparatively high technology by which it broadcasts.{{cite web|title=About Top Channel|url=http://www.top-channel.tv/new/tv/rrethnesh.php|access-date=24 April 2015|archive-date=8 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008084236/http://top-channel.tv/new/tv/rrethnesh.php|url-status=dead}}

In the past years it has also sought partnership with international development agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF, IOM, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, USAID, the 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.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

Since 21 January 2008, Top Channel is officially considered as "national television".

On 10 May 2009, Top Channel began high-definition broadcast.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025|reason=No evidence as of 28 May 2025}}

Top Channel together with Top Albania Radio and Top Gold Radio were formed by former media mogul and Lori Caffe owner Dritan Hoxha, who later died in a car accident in downtown Tirana while driving his car Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.

His wife, Vjollca Hoxha, took over the business in 2008 and served as President of the company.{{cite web

|title=Gëzuar ditëlindjen, President!

|url=https://top-channel.tv/2019/03/23/gezuar-ditelindjen-presidente/

|website=Top Channel

|access-date=12 April 2025

}}

In 2017, Top Channel ceased standard-definition broadcast.

In 2022, their daughter, Lori Hoxha,{{cite web

|title=Lori Hoxha feston sot ditelindjen, sa vjec ben CEO e Top Medias

|url=https://www.voxnews.al/english/lifestyle/lori-hoxha-feston-sot-ditelindjen-sa-vjec-ben-ceo-e-top-media-s-i50644

|website=Vox News

|access-date=12 April 2025

}}

was appointed as CEO of the company, taking on a leadership role after Vjollca Hoxha.

On 27 March 2023, a "terrorist" attack on the Top Channel headquarters in Tirana resulted in the death of a guard, Pal Kola, who was shot with a Kalashnikov AK-47 from a Range Rover that was later found burnt.{{cite web |title=Top Channel TV's statement on terrorist attack with an employee killed at its main headquarters |url=https://top-channel.tv/english/top-channel-tvs-statement-on-terrorist-attack-with-an-employee-killed-at-its-main-headquarters/ |website=Top Channel}}

{{Undue weight section|to=certain programmes|date=June 2025}}{{main|List of programs broadcast by Top Channel}}

Top Channel's programmes include a broad range of mostly pre-recorded shows, news editions, social and economic programs and entertainments (movies, sports, etc.)

E Diell is a show that airs every saturday since its foundation in 2008. It is a show where there are interviews, cultural dances, and even some talks about topics. Between 2008-2011, this show was hosted by Adi Krasta. Between 2011-2013 the show was hosted by Alban Dudushi and Xhemi Shehu. In the last part of every show between 2011-2013, there was also Kinema Kuiz, or Cinema Quiz, in which it is a quiz show in E Diell about Albanian movies.

In 2013-2014 only, the show was hosted by Ledion Liço. Between 2014-2016 the show got hosted again by Alban Dudushi and Xhemi Shehu. The show shut down in 2016 and Adi Krasta took over the show once again on 8 January 2017, with the song Prisencolinensinainciusol being the theme song of the show. He took over the show again until 18 June 2017. In 2019, Edi Manushi, who was the host of Procesi Sportiv, became the host of the show. He is still the host to this day. E Diell has a lot of entertainment show series like Rrethi Katror which is a conspiracy discussion show with guests like Alfred Cako, Milaim Zeka, Bledi Mane and others.

Fiks Fare is a critical and problem-raising show, which through humour and satire denounces the negative aspects of life such as corruption, fraud, law-breaking by high-rank officials, human rights violations, national development issues and many other variable issues. 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 broadcast every day of the week immediately after the main news edition. It is the Albanian version of an Italian format named Striscia la Notizia.

Shqip was the flagship program shown on Top Channel on Mondays. It first aired on 3 May 2002. 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 nation; 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. The program was presented by known journalist Rudina Xhunga. It stopped airing on 7 September 2015, and shortly after moved to "Dritare TV", as an independent web series.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2022 |title=Shqip me Rudina Xhungën - Full Theme Music (2004-2015) [Top Channel] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqOBvlveCGk |website=YouTube}}

Ftesë në 5 is an evening talk show that does interviews to people all around Albania and gives them topics to talk about. It was first created on 3 September 2018, and it is meant to be the successor to Pasdite në Top Channel, which was also an evening talk show that was broadcast until July 2018.

Portokalli is a weekly night sketch comedy and variety show filmed in Tirana in front of a live audience. It was first shown on 31 December 2003. The format of the show includes stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, and live music, making the show similar to NBC's Saturday Night Live. Portokalli is known to make fun of everyday problems through humour and satire. It also makes fun of political figures such as Sali Berisha, Alfred Moisiu, Lulzim Basha, Edi Rama, Hashim Thaçi, Ramush Haradinaj, and others. Portokalli reaches an audience of many ages through young and old, and has been criticised over the vulgar language often used. The show still airs to this day.

Top Story is a hard talk program hosted by Sokol Balla which started to air on 26 October 2006 with the first ever topic of the show being "Ligji Elektorale" (Electoral Laws){{Cite web |title=Sokol Balla tregon emisionin ku ftuarit shtrëngonin dhëmbët edhe gjatë reklamave- Ëndërtjerrësit |trans-title=Sokol Balla shows the show where the guests clenched their teeth even during the commercials - The dreamers |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNJPHWhoz9I |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=YouTube}} The show consists of political figures being interviewed, either with the host or as a political discussion between four politicians. Top Story broadcasts Monday and Tuesday at 21:00 (9 PM) and Wednesday at 22:00 (10 PM). The show stopped airing on 28 December 2017. The program aired again in 7 April 2022 and still airs to this day. On 25 October 2022, Sokol Balla left Top Channel due to a heart attack and was replaced by Grida Duma in November 2022.{{Cite web |date=28 December 2017 |title=Top Story, 28 Dhjetor 2017, Pjesa 3 - Top Channel Albania - Political Talk Show |trans-title=Top Story, 28 December 2017, Part 3 - Top Channel Albania - Political Talk Show |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00cIgP_tHHA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909063425/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00cIgP_tHHA |archive-date=2023-09-09 |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=YouTube}} After recovering from his heart attack he joined an Albanian channel named ABC and made a similar show named Real Story.

Top Show is an Albanian talk show hosted by Alban Dudushi. Founded on 31 December 2003, where politicians, celebrities, and even activists talk about a topic or two. On 14 February 2013, Top Show Magazine was created for topics like culture, art, and others.{{Cite web |date=13 February 2022 |title=Bieta Sulo dhe Alban Dudushi, rrëfejnë se si u dashuruan duke punuar në Top Channel!-Ëndërtjerrësit |trans-title=Bieta Sulo and Alban Dudushi, told how they fell in love whilst working in Top Channel! -Dreamers |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQKn_2GpCsE |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=YouTube}} The show had aired for the last time on 10 March 2020, with Alban Dudushi leaving Top Channel shortly after and joining RTSH with a new program, also a talk show named "3D".{{Cite web |date=10 March 2020 |title="Covid-19" - Top Show 10 Mars 2020, Pjesa 3 |trans-title="Covid-19", Top Show 10 March 2020, Part 3 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT_CORDimvQ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909065608/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT_CORDimvQ |archive-date=2023-09-09 |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=YouTube}}

Top Fest was an Albanian music competition organised by Top Channel. It began airing in 2004 with its last edition being in 2015. The event was annually held in Tirana, Albania.{{cite web|title=Top Fest|url=http://www.nix-music.tv/index.php/top-fest/|publisher=nix-music.tv|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011122039/http://www.nix-music.tv/index.php/top-fest|archivedate=2013-10-11}} The songs were usually performed in Albanian with artists from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and other Albanian-speaking territories. From its 7th edition (2010), the participants performed their entries 100% live.{{cite web|title=Top Fest Awards| website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2E2B4E7287FCB35B}}

{{Main|Big Brother Albania|Big Brother VIP (Albanian TV series)}}

Big Brother Albania is the Albanian version of the Dutch reality competition franchise Big Brother created by producer John de Mol in 1997. It follows a number of contestants, known as housemates, who are isolated from the outside world for an extended period of time in a custom-built house. Each week, one of the housemates is evicted by a public vote, with the last housemate remaining winning a cash prize.{{cite web|title=Big Brother Albania - Top Channel|url=http://gazetashqiptare.al/2017/11/04/vendimi-papritur-mbyllet-big-brother-albania/|work=Gazeta Shqiptare|date=November 11, 2017}} The series started airing on 24 February 2008 on Top Channel and it has had nine seasons to date. Arbana Osmani hosted the first seven seasons and the ninth season. Ledion Liço hosted the eighth season as Osmani was pregnant and took time off to be with her family.

The eviction show aired on Saturdays except for the seventh season where the eviction show was moved to Fridays. There are also two live pay-per-view channels (Big Brother VIP 1 and Big Brother Vip 2), available to watch when aired on Albanian pay TV platform DigitAlb.

StarTop is a reality TV show focused on business and innovation, featuring aspiring entrepreneurs pitching innovative ideas to seasoned investors. The program, hosted by Eno Popi,{{cite web

|url=https://gazeta-shqip.com/lifestyle/keshilla-biznesi-falas-startop-eno-popi-jep-detaje-nga-emisioni-me-i-r-i1191779/

|title=Këshilla biznesi falas: "StarTop", Eno Popi jep detaje nga emisioni më i ri

|author=Gazeta Shqip

|date=2024-12-04

|website=Gazeta Shqip

|access-date=2024-12-05

|language=sq

}} began airing on Top Channel on October 22, 2022, and ended on January 7, 2023, with a total of 12 episodes.

Yjet Shqiptarë të Diasporës is a television talent show featuring young Albanian artists from the diaspora. Created and hosted by Ilir Shaqiri, with Ledja Liku serving as executive producer and screenwriter, the program premiered on Top Channel on February 2, 2025. Auditions were held in various European cities, including Rome, Dortmund, Skopje, Basel, Pristina, and Milan, with final rounds taking place in Tirana. The show airs weekly on Sundays at 20:10.{{cite web

|url=https://top-channel.tv/2025/02/01/yjet-shqiptare-te-diaspores-nis-kete-te-diel-ne-ekranin-e-top-channel-ilir-shaqiri-zbulon-detajet-ne-podcast-in-e-kryeministrit-kemi-pasur-600-konkurrente0/

|title="Yjet Shqiptarë të Diasporës" nis këtë të diel në ekranin e Top Channel! Ilir Shaqiri zbulon detajet në podcast-in e Kryeministrit: Kemi pasur 600 konkurrentë

|author=Top Channel

|date=2025-02-01

|website=Top Channel

|access-date=2025-05-31

|language=sq

}}

In 2021, to mark its 20th anniversary, Top Channel released a commemorative book titled Dritë. The publication features archival photographs and reflections from notable figures in media, politics, and culture, highlighting the channel’s influence on Albanian society.{{cite web |title=Dritë – Top Channel |url=https://shop.top-media.al/produkt/drite-top-channel/ |website=Top Media Shop |access-date=16 April 2025 |language=sq}}

• DigitAlb
• Telecommunications in Albania
• Dritan Hoxha

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.top-channel.tv}}

{{Television in Albania}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Television networks in Albania

Category:Television channels and stations established in 2001

Category:Mass media in Tirana