Beginning
its first radio broadcast in 1938, today Radio Tirana is a complex organization
providing diverse programs for 2 channels of domestic service (respectively
19 and 5 hours daily) and a third section covering international broadcasting
in short and medium waves (2 services in Albanian and 7 services in foreign
languages). There are also, several local radios.
Radio
Tirana and Albanian Television together constitute RTSH, which is a
public broadcasting organization. It is the only national broadcasting
company in the country, besides several local and regional private run
radio and TV stations which started recently.
RTSH provides
a full range of radio and TV programs such as news, cultural, scientific,
economical, environment, agricultural, music, entertainment, drama and
children programs.
Since
the 15 November 1993, RTSH broadcasts two hours on the satellite covering
all of Europe including the northern part of the Mediterranean. This
program operates from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm (CET) and is aimed at all the
Albanian communities living in Kosovo, Macedonia, Monte Negro and Cameria
(Northern Greece), as well as Albanians living in Europe.
35 % of
the funding of RTSH comes from commercial advertising and fees (half
a US$ per year for each household). The Government finances the remaining
part through the Parliament. There is a small complimentary financing
by sponsorship.