| Type | Public TV and Radio |
|---|---|
| Country | Albania |
| Availability | National (in analogue); International (on satellite and internet via IPTV platforms) |
| Slogan | Radio Televizioni Publik Shqiptar |
| Key people | Petrit Beci (General director) |
| Launch date | November 28, 1938 (radio) April 29, 1960 (television) |
| Former names | Radiodifuzioni dhe Televizioni Shqiptar |
| Official website | www.rtsh.al |
Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) (English: Albanian Radio and Television) is the public broadcaster of Albania, founded in 1938 in Tirana.
RTSH runs three television stations named Televizioni Shqiptar (TVSH, TVSH 2, and TVSH Sat), and three radio stations, using the name Radio Tirana while four additional radio stations serve regionally. The international service broadcasts radio programmes in Albanian and seven other languages via medium wave (AM) and short wave (SW).[1] and uses the theme from the song "Keputa një gjethe dafine" as its signature tune. The international television service via satellite was launched since 1993 and aims at Albanian communities in Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and northern Greece, plus the Albanian diaspora in the rest of Europe. Since 1999, RTSH has been a member of the European Broadcasting Union.
RTSH is the official organizer of the Albanian Song Festival Festivali i Kenges, the winner of which represents Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest. RTSH is funded by a combination of commercial advertising, a licence fee of US$12.00[2] and grant-in-aid from the Albanian government.
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The beginnings of RTSH date back to the creation of Radio Tirana on 28 November 1938. The first Albanian radio station was launched by King Zog I and Queen Geraldine Apponyi in a ceremony at the former building of the Municipality of Tirana. A year earlier, a shortwave transmitter 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 of choral singing, where Jorgji Truja and Marije Kraja sang an introductory piece, followed by the unique timber 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.[3]
In 1959, Radio Tirana's director by that time, Petro Kita, founded the first Experimental Television Center to provide the basis for the latter Albanian television, TVSH. 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.[4] Television programs were regularly launched by 1971.[5] 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.
Radio Tirana is seen by many as a symbol representing Albanian culture in the world. Through its educational, cultural, and informative programs, Radio Tirana has played a major role in the transmission of the Albanian people's cultural values. The station served as the first academy of Albanian literal language. In its archive can be found interesting historical artifacts such as a speech made by Fan Stilian Noli or the voice of Albanian arts' ambassador, Alexander Moissi. It served as a venue on which emerging Albanian artists first showcased their talents later becoming icons. The voices of Tefta 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.
Despite the country's tiny size and isolationist policies, Radio Tirana was a fairly major international broadcaster during the Cold War. Its programmes had a reputation for being dull and boring.
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 the People's Republic of China, which was also both anti-West and anti-Soviet whilst still being socialist in tone. Following the break with China, programming still remained Marxist-Leninist in nature.
During the 1970s, the station broadcast to Europe on 1214 kHz, causing interference problems for the British BBC 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 many amateur radio operators in Europe by operating transmitters in the 7 MHz (40 metre) amateur band.
In 1985, It broadcasts only 2:30 hours per day. It open at 20:00 and close at 22:30. Later, In 1986, Each day broadcast for 4 hours. From 17:00 to 18:30 and 20:00 to 22:30. Most of the programming in the communist days are propaganda and news programs only.
Political programming predominated during this period. Features included Marxism-Leninism – an Ever-Young and Scientific Doctrine and Socialism and the Youth. The feature Leafing Through the Marxist-Leninist Press reviewed the journals of foreign communist parties allied to the Albanian Party of Labour. Other programs included Introducing You To Albania, Leafing Through Our Listeners' Letters, Culture and Art in Socialist Albania and The Song of Our Life. Radio Tirana also presented irregular programs of revolutionary music from around the world.
The interval signal of Radio Tirana during this period was the first few bars of the Albanian revolutionary song With a Pickaxe in One Hand and a Rifle in the Other. 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.
A similar ideological battle took place on the television spectrum. The neighboring TV signals of Italian RAI and Yugoslav RTV Titograd were particularly affected. During the 60s, RAI used to be received in Tirana in decent quality. As time passed, the signal was strengthened by RTSH at Mount 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 and papal activities, or even regular commercial spots used to be jammed. A similar phenomenon occurred with RTV Titograd's frequencies. In contrast, a widespread rumour of the time held that the homes of Albania's Party of Labour leader Enver Hoxha and others close to him received foreign TV signals through a so-called "special cable", allowing them to watch foreign media uncensored.
After the fall of the communist system, Albania's TV frequencies started to be filled by a variety of Western broadcasters: from RAI to CNN International. In 2002, the practice was partially discontinued as Parliament passed a law outlining protective measures for the Albanian broadcasting industry.
RTSH has enjoyed a robust position in the Albanian broadcasting field up to the mid 1990s, a period when privately owned radio and TV stations started to occupy the vast empty frequencies of Albania. This caused a gradual brain-drain. Lured by higher wages and not only, numerous experienced journalists and employees left RTSH for the new media outlets. For instance, Albania's current popular political talk shows such as Opinion by Blendi Fevziu (formerly E Diela Debat) or Fokus 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 entertainment, civics, education and science.
One of the programs leaving a lasting impression was that of talented show-man Adi Krasta, entitled Rreth Fatit për 12-Javë. The show was embedded in a national lottery, something unseen before in Albania, ran on primetime state TV for about 5 hours non-stop, and offered tunes of famous American song ballads, such as (I've Had) The Time Of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, and famous hit song Auberge by British Blues icon Chris Rea. In addition, American actor of Albanian descent James Belushi offered his salutations to the Albanian people from the USA in an exclusive interview.
Another brilliant production is the End-Year Festive Concert, a yearly TV program styled as a celebration of the New Year where a variety of humorous sketches are conducted by talented comedy troupes from across Albania directed by Osman Mula, as well as other TV directors.
On the cultural aspect, high quality documentaries are produced on various national heritage topics such as past and present personalities, historical surveys of geographic regions, and news reports on cultural gatherings. Theater on the Screen segment features theater performances of past years both in the drama and comedy genres.
The journalistic field was represented by experienced iconic figures such as news anchors Tefta Radi, Roland Roshi, Arben Kamberi, Reiz Çiço and many others behind the stage, while TVSH journalists are known for commanding a clear spoken Albanian language.
RTSH also covers daily and special proceedings of the Parliament of Albania.
In 1997, in Albania, educational institutions were temporarily shut down due to the 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 1998, journalists of RTV Pristina (now RTK) were obliged to flee Pristina as the situation in Kosovo was escalating. They took temporal refuge in RTSH by anchoring specific news bulletins on their region's situation.
RTSH owns and operates a vast number of transmitter sites throughout the country such as the Fushe Dajt and Dajt 1613m stations at Mount Dajt in the periphery of Tirana. As such, a number of Western radio and TV broadcasters lease the sites to broadcast their own feeds since the 1990s.
| Original name | Format | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Lajme | news | Albania |
| Java ne Parlament | parliamentary affairs | Albania |
| Jo Vetëm Kafe | morning show | Albania |
| Hapësirë e Blertë | agricultural affairs | Albania |
| 7 X 7 | talk show | Albania |
| Log | Political | Albania |
| Zik-Zak | talk show | Albania |
| Netët e Klipit | awards gala | Albania |
| Rubrika Sportive | sport show | Albania |
| Troç | youth affairs | Albania |
| Skaner | investigative | Albania |
| Aktualitet Permes Shtypit | early morning show | Albania |
| Original name | Albanian translation | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Ditari | Lajme nga Zëri i Amerikës | United States |
| Kurtuluş | Çlirimi | Turkey |
| Eurovision Song Contest | Festivali Evropian i Këngës | Europe |
On the technical aspect, the quality of Radio Tirana's broadcasting has gradually improved. After the Second World War, noticeable improvements were observed in Albania's coverage with signal. Improvements were also noted in the external service, as the radio center 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 on VHF band in Tirana was strengthened. TVSH became available also on UHF and experimental broadcasts of the second TV channel TVSH 2 were initiated. Later, screen graphics experienced an extreme makeover.The FM channel in the capital at 99,5 MHz was put on Stereo, and the second radio program was expanded to 24 hours a day.
In 2007, RTSH launched its official webpage with daily news 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.
Allegations of bias in reporting have remained throughout the long history of RTSH. Critics and observers of the institution suggest that it leans towards the government's agenda and conclude that it unsuccessfully tries to reinvent itself as an independent public broadcaster.
Additionally, TVSH was observed simulcasting Fox News Channel at the night-time slot (apprx. 0000CET-0700CET) during the 2003 military campaign on Iraq.
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