The Republic of Albania

The Albanian state, like other states, has control over public television and radio, which are financed through the budget and a special tax. In fact, during the period of communist dictatorship from 1944 to 1991, the media in Albania was entirely controlled by the state. After the fall of the dictatorship, in the 1990s, a number of privately-owned media outlets were established in the country. In the late 1990s, the first privately-owned television stations also emerged.

However, the state retained ownership of the Albanian Radio and Television (RTSH), which was transformed into a public radio-television broadcaster. RTSH, which expanded with a range of television and radio channels after digitalization, is primarily financed through a special tax attached to the electricity bill. It is considered public property and is overseen by the Parliament and special structures that are meant to ensure its independence from the government.

 Besides RTSH, the Republic of Albania is considered the owner and has held ownership since September 2023 through the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK) of Radio Televizioni Ora and 30% of the shares of the company Ora News, which controls a TV channel with the same name and the news portal oranews.tv.

The Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AASCA) is a state entity established in 2004 based on the law "Prevention and Combating of Organized Crime," also known as the "anti-mafia" law. This law allows for the confiscation of unjustifiably acquired assets of individuals accused of involvement in organized crime. The agency operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior and is led by a chief administrator.

State control over ORA Sh.a., which owns the radio and television with the same name and 30% of the shares of Oranews, comes as a result of court decisions that ordered their confiscation following investigations into the assets of the former owner, Ylli Ndroqi. Ndroqi's assets were confiscated after investigations by the Special Anti-Corruption Structure, SPAK. Investigations into Ndroqi's assets were initiated based on anti-mafia law and cited reasons such as his arrest in Turkey in 1998 and an arrest warrant from Italy in 2006. Ndroqi, who is also listed in the prosecutor's documents under the name Xhemail Pasmaçiu, has been implicated by SPAK in drug trafficking, and his wealth is not justified by legal sources. The First Instance Special Court and the Court of Appeals found the prosecution's claims to be valid. In September 2023, the Supreme Court rejected a request to suspend these decisions.

Due to political interference, the image of public media in Albania reflects that of institutions controlled by the ruling party. Even though public media has a better budget than many private media outlets, its viewership in the country is low.