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Top Channel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the Philippine TV network, seeTOP Channel.

Top Channel
TypeNational commercial network
NetworkDigitAlb
HeadquartersTirana,Albania
Programming
Picture format576i(SDTV16:9)
1080i(HDTV16:9)
Ownership
OwnerTop Media Group:
Vjollca Hoxha (20%)
Sara Hoxha (20%)
Redia Hoxha (20%)
Lorela Hoxha (20%)
Itan Hoxha (20%)
DigitAlb
Sister channelsRadio:
Top Albania Radio
100.0 FM (Tirana)
Top Gold Radio
100.8 FM (Tirana)
My Music Radio
97.3 FM (Tirana)
TV:
Top News
MusicAL
History
Launched20 December 2001(22 years ago)(2001-12-20)
Links
WebsiteOfficial website
Availability
Terrestrial
AlbaniaDVB-T2

Top Channelis a national commercial television network based inTirana, Albania.[1]The network was founded byDritan Hoxhain 2001,[2]the network forms part of Top Media Group together with Top Albania Radio, Top Gold Radio, My Music Radio, daily newspaperShqip,daily magazine Shqip Magazine, coffee producer Lori Caffe,Digitalb,Top News,VGA Studio,musicAL,and Imperial Cinemas.

In January 2008, Top Channel was awarded national frequency coverage by making it the third such channel in Albania. In 2009, it was the first Albanian channel to become available in16:9widescreenhigh-definition televisionfor selected programs. In 2012 they became fully HD by switching16:9widescreen in late September. Since September 2003, Top Channel has been present on satellite bybroadcastingall over Europe throughDigitAlb,and North America throughTVALBand Shqip TV.[3]The channel is available throughIPTVinEuropeandNorth America,and through local cable inSwitzerland.

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Top Channel's advertisement jingles are referenced with Lori Caffè, with an "o" transitioning to become a "b", to form the word "publicitet" meaning "publicity" in Albanian. This style was used for every publicity jingle (except the electoral and Vodafone bumpers) that Top Channel used and it is still in use to this day.

Evolution[4]

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2004-2006

2001-2003 (Christmas bumpers of 2004-2006 bumpers)

2006-2009

2009-2016 (Original 2009)

2009-2016 (Later 2011)

2011-2015 (Christmas bumpers of later 2011 bumpers)

2013–Present (Electoral bumpers)

2016-2017

2016-2017 (Christmas bumpers)

2017-2021 (Original 2017)

2017-2018 (Christmas bumpers of original 2017 bumpers)

2017-2021 (Later 2018)

2018-2019 (Vodafone Publicitet bumpers)

2021-2022

2021-2022 (Christmas bumpers of 2021 bumpers)

2022–Present

2023 (Christmas bumpers of 2022 bumpers, used from December 4 to 19 2023 when they were replaced with the 2012 Christmas idents and the 2016 TV monitors Christmas ident)[5]

History

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Top Media former studios at thePyramid of Tirana

The channel started being built in 2000.

Top Channel began experimental broadcasts on 30 July 2001 at the International Centre for Culture (Qendra Ndërkombëtare e Kulturës) also known as "the Pyramid"or former mausoleum ofEnver Hoxhain 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 December 20, 2001, and very quickly it became a generalist TV channel.

As of 2006,it was believed[weasel words]that Top Channel held an average viewing rate of 70%, though these are based on approximate evaluations and not officially confirmed. In 2003, asurveyranked 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 thepublic broadcasterTVSH.Its success relates to its informationalprogramsabout the problems that Albaniansocietyfaces, as well as to the comparatively high technology by which it broadcasts.[6]

In the past years it has also sought partnership withinternational development agenciessuch asUNDP,UNICEF,IOM,Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe,USAID,AlbanianandFrench Red Cross,and many others, and sustains partnership with international private companies such asVodafone.In addition, Top Channel has seen growing partnership with international news agencies such asReutersin exchanging news coverage.

Since January 21, 2008, Top Channel is officially national.

Top Channel together with Top Albania Radio and Top Gold Radio were formed by former media mogul and Lori Caffe ownerDritan Hoxha,who later died in a car accident in downtown Tirana while driving his Ferrari. His wife, Vjollca Hoxha, has taken over the business since 2008.

On 2019, Top Channel stopped being on HD, instead by upgrading into1080p.

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 KalashnikovAK-47from aRange Roverthat was later found burnt.[7]

Programmes

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Main article: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.)

Programming highlights

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News bulletins and reports

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These include mainly daily news about the political, economic, cultural, and social environment in Albania. The programs also provide information regarding the main events occurring in every part of the world.

E Diell

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E Diellis 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 byAdi Krasta.Between 2011-2013 the show was hosted byAlban DudushiandXhemi Shehu.In the last part of every show between 2011-2013, there was alsoKinema 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 byLedion 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 January 8, 2017, with the songPrisencolinensinainciusolbeing the theme song of the show. He took over the show again until 18 June 2017. In 2019,Edi Manushi,who was the host ofProcesi Sportiv,became the host of the show. He is still the host to this day.

Fiks Fare

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Fiks Fareis a critical and problem-raising show, which through humour and satire denounces the negative aspects of life such ascorruption,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 namedStriscia la Notizia.

Shqip

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Shqipwas the flagship program shown on Top Channel on Mondays. It first aired on May 3, 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 September 7, 2015, and shortly after moved to "Dritare TV", as an independent web series.[8]

Ftesë Në 5

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

Portokalli

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Portokalliis a weekly night sketch comedy andvariety showfilmed inTiranain 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 toNBC'sSaturday Night Live.Portokalli is known to make fun of everyday problems through humour and satire. It also makes fun of political figures such asSali Berisha,Alfred Moisiu,Lulzim Basha,Edi Rama,Hashim Thaçi,Ramush Haradinaj,and others.Portokallireaches 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

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Top Storyis a hard talk program hosted bySokol Ballawhich started to air on 26 October 2006 with the first ever topic of the show being "Ligji Elektorale"(Electoral Laws)[9]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 April 7, 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.[10]After recovering from his heart attack he joined an Albanian channel namedABCand made a similar show named "Real Story".

Top Show

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Top Showis an Albanian talk show hosted by Alban Dudushi. Founded on December 31, 2003, where politicians, celebrities, and even activists talk about a topic or two. On February 14, 2013, Top Show Magazine was created for topics like culture, art, and others.[11]The show had aired for the last time on 10 March 2020, with Alban Dudushi leaving Top Channel shortly after and joiningRTSHwith a new program, also a talk show named "3D".[12]

Top Fest

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Top Festwas an Albanianmusic competitionorganised by Top Channel. It began airing in 2004 with its last edition being in 2015. The event was annually held inTirana,Albania.[13]The songs were usually performed inAlbanianwith artists from Albania,Kosovo,North Macedoniaand otherAlbanian-speakingterritories. From its 7th edition (2010), the participants performed their entries 100% live.[14]

Big Brother Albania

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Big Brother Albaniais theAlbanianversion of the Dutchreality competitionfranchiseBig Brothercreated by producerJohn de Molin 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.[15]The series started airing on 24 February 2008 on Top Channel and it has had nine seasons to date.Arbana Osmanihosted 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 livepay-per-viewchannels available to watch when aired on Albanianpay TV platformDigitAlb.

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Change Log - KingOfSat".KingOfSat.
  2. ^"Top Channel".OpenCorporates.al.Retrieved23 October2022.
  3. ^"Top Channel - LyngSat".LyngSat.
  4. ^(200TH VIDEO SPECIAL) Top Channel Break Bumpers History, Evolution & Collection (2001-present),retrieved25 March2024
  5. ^Top Channel Publicitet Christmas Bumpers - (2023-2024),retrieved25 March2024
  6. ^"About Top Channel".Archived fromthe originalon 8 October 2017.Retrieved24 April2015.
  7. ^"Top Channel TV's statement on terrorist attack with an employee killed at its main headquarters".Top Channel.
  8. ^"Shqip me Rudina Xhungën - Full Theme Music (2004-2015) [Top Channel]".YouTube.30 January 2022.
  9. ^"Sokol Balla tregon emisionin ku ftuarit shtrëngonin dhëmbët edhe gjatë reklamave- Ëndërtjerrësit"[Sokol Balla shows the show where the guests clenched their teeth even during the commercials - The dreamers].YouTube.Retrieved1 January2024.
  10. ^"Top Story, 28 Dhjetor 2017, Pjesa 3 - Top Channel Albania - Political Talk Show"[Top Story, 28 December 2017, Part 3 - Top Channel Albania - Political Talk Show].YouTube.28 December 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 9 September 2023.Retrieved9 September2023.
  11. ^"Bieta Sulo dhe Alban Dudushi, rrëfejnë se si u dashuruan duke punuar në Top Channel!-Ëndërtjerrësit"[Bieta Sulo and Alban Dudushi, told how they fell in love whilst working in Top Channel! -Dreamers].YouTube.13 February 2022.Retrieved30 October2023.
  12. ^""Covid-19" - Top Show 10 Mars 2020, Pjesa 3 "[ "Covid-19", Top Show 10 March 2020, Part 3].YouTube.10 March 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 9 September 2023.Retrieved9 September2023.
  13. ^"Top Fest".nix-music.tv. Archived fromthe originalon 11 October 2013.
  14. ^"Top Fest Awards".YouTube.
  15. ^"Big Brother Albania - Top Channel".Gazeta Shqiptare.11 November 2017.
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