Diana KALAJA
RTSH - Albanian Radio Television
Rr. Ismail Qemali. Nr. 11
Tirana, Albania
Tel/fax +355 4 222 8302
e-mail: d.kalaja@rtsh.al
Web - site: www.rtsh.com.al

Albanian Television is a public, non-profit broadcasting organisation performing radio and television broadcasting activities in order to meet public requirements. It is the only public broadcasting company in the country, besides several public local radios and three regional TV stations: two in the south located in the city of Korca and Gjirokastra and the third one in the biggest northern city Shkodra. TVS11 broadcasts daily from 07.00 - 24.00 (local time or CET).

Since the November 15th 1993 until April 15th 2002, TVSH broadcasted two hours per with analogue signal on the satellite covering all Europe as well as the northern part of the Mediterranean from 18.30 - 20.30 (local time or CET) and was aimed at all the Albanian communities living in Kosovo, Macedonia, Monte Negro and Cameria (Northern Greece), as well as all the Albanians living in Europe, providing them with information and entertainment programmes.

But as from March 25th 2002 TVS11 transmits in a digital system six hours per day i.e. from 16.00 - 22.00 (local time or CET).

The cost of the satellite programme is covered by the state budget and it meets the requirements of public television.

35% of the funding of TVSH comes from commercial advertising and fees (5 US$ per year for a household). The rest is financed by the Government through the Parliament. There is a small complimentary financing by sponsorship.

TVSH provides a full range of TV programmes such as news, cultural, scientific, economic, environment, agricultural, music, entertainment, drama and children programmes.

TVSH presently employs 370 people, out of which 100 are engineering and technical staff, almost 40 are employed in the administration and in other services and the rest are journalists and editors.

75% of the programmes are in the Albanian language. Foreign programmes are mostly sub-titled and the documentaries over voiced. A few of them, children’s programmes included, are dubbed.

There are some 3 million inhabitants in Albania.The TV network covers nearly 90% of the population at present.

RTSH has no real competition right now. Although recently nearly 60 small private TV stations, and some 35 private radio channels have come out.

Region - RTV SHQIPTAR