RTSH

King Zog and Queen Geraldine Apponyi launched Radio Tirana in 1938.

The beginnings of RTSH date to the creation of Radio Tirana on 28 November 1938. The first Albanian radio station was launched by King Zog I (1895–1961) and Queen Geraldine Apponyi (1915–2002) 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 timbre 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.[4]

Headquarters in Tirana.

In 1959, Radio Tirana's director by that time, Petro Kita, founded the first Experimental Television Centre 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.[5] Television programs were regularly launched by 1971.[6] 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. In 2012, several digital only channels were launched by RTSH.

Despite the country's small size and isolationist policies, Radio Tirana was a fairly major international broadcaster during the Cold War. Its programmes had a reputation for being little more than dull propaganda.

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.

Polish Communist Kazimierz Mijal (1910–2010) broadcast his radical opinions in Polish 1966–1978.

Pin badge, late 1980s

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 broadcast only 2.5 hours per day. It opened at 20:00 and closed at 22:30. Later, in 1986, it broadcast each day for 4 hours, from 17:00 to 18:30 and 20:00 to 22:30. Most of the programming during the communist era consisted of propaganda and news programs.

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, while the programme What We Saw in Socialist Albania offered interviews with foreign visitors to Albania.

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 (Albanian: Në njërën dorë kazmën në tjetrën pushkën). 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.[7]

A similar ideological battle took place on the television spectrum. The neighbouring TV signals of Italian RAI and Yugoslav RTV Titograd were particularly affected. During the 1960s, RAI was 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 were jammed. A similar phenomenon occurred with RTV Titograd's frequencies.

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.

The former grounds of the headquarters of Radio Tirana.

Radio Tirana is widely seen as a symbol representing Albanian culture in the world. Through its educational, cultural, and informative programs broadcast nationally and internationally, Radio Tirana has played a major role in the transmission of Albanian people's cultural values. The station served as the first academy of Albanian literal language as in its archive can be found interesting historical artefacts such as a speech made by Fan Stilian Noli or the voice of Albanian arts' ambassador, Alexander Moissi. Furthermore, 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.

RTSH has dominated the Albanian broadcasting field up to the middle of the 1990s, a period when privately owned radio and television stations started to occupy the vast empty Albanian frequencies resulting in a gradual brain-drain. Lured by higher wages and not only, numerous experienced journalists and employees left the broadcaster 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 civics, education and science.

Classic Logo of Albanian Television (TVSH) since the 1990s replaced by RTSH 1 HD in February 2017

TVSH during 1989 - 1992. Logo remained in the main entrance of the building until 1998

One of the post-communist 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 and ran on primetime state television for about five hours non-stop in addition to offering tunes of famous American song ballads such as I've Had The Time Of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, and hit song Auberge by Chris Rea. In addition, American actor of Albanian descent James Belushi offered his salutations to the Albanian people from the United States in the program through an exclusive interview. Other impressive programs included 12 vallzime pa nje te shtune, Miss Albania, and musical productions from Leonard Bombaj.

The broadcaster is known for producing high quality documentaries on Albanian national heritage topics such as important personalities, surveys of Albanian historic regions, and geographic landscapes. The theatre on the screen segment features theatre performances of past years both in the drama and comedy genres. Another well-known production is the Hapesire e Blerte, an agricultural show, a long lasting programme entirely dedicated to the Albanian agricultural scene and countryside. Another important highlight is the year-end festive concert show, a yearly television program styled as a celebration of the new year where a variety of humorous sketches are conducted by talented comedy troupes from across Albania.

Up to the early 2000s, the journalistic field was represented by experienced iconic personalities such as news anchors Tefta Radi, Roland Roshi, Arben Kamberi, Reiz Çiço, and Arben Mevlani. The broadcaster also has exclusive coverage of 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 1999, journalists of RTV Pristina 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.

On May 6, 2016, RTSH appointed Thoma Gëllçi as Director General as the position had been vacant for years.[8] On the 8th of October 2021, Mr Gëllçi was detained by the Albanian Special Court on Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) for alleged corruption in procurement and public tender processes.[9][10] His request to be released while his appeal is pending was approved by the court on 30th of August, 2022.[11]

A Balkan Insight investigation found that the broadcaster, despite its statutory duty to be impartial, in fact gave disproportionate coverage to the Socialist Party of Albania during the campaign for the 2021 Albanian parliamentary election.[12]

• Radio Tirana (also, Radio Tirana 1) is the name of Albania's first radio program, concentrating on news, talk, and features
• Radio Tirana 2 is the second radio program targeted at youth broadcasting mainly music
• Radio Tirana 3 is the third radio program dedicated to all genres of Albanian music
• Radio Tirana International is the name of the international service broadcasting in Albanian, English, French. Greek, German, Italian, Serbian, and Turkish
• Radio Tirana Klasik is a radio station broadcasting in Tirana at 101.2 MHz dedicated mainly to classical music.
• Radio Tirana Jazz is a radio station dedicated to jazz classics broadcasting only on digital and not on FM.
• Radio Tirana Fëmijë is a radio station dedicated to Albanian children.
• Radio Korça in Korçë, Albania
• Radio Gjirokastra in Gjirokastër, Albania
• Radio Shkodra in Shkodër, Albania
• Radio Kukësi in Kukës, Albania

In 2017, RTSH launched "RTSH Tani" an app which enables users of Android and iOS to watch all the channels from the RTSH digital platform including the regional channels such as TV Korca. In addition, the app enables users to watch catch up TV content from the last 7 days for all 9 channels.[13]