Syri Tv
Syri TV commenced its broadcasting in 2020 as a media outlet aligned with the opposition and the Democratic Party. The television channel airs news 24 hours a day, and its main programs are political in nature, including shows like "Çim Peka Live," "A Show," "Task Force," and others.
"Syri TV" was an expansion of the media activity of the "Open Information Center," which had launched the informative portal Syri.net in 2015. However, the center was officially registered two years later, in 2017. In addition to the portal and the television, the Center for Open Information also acquired a radio company that mainly broadcasts the television program.
According to the registration decision made public in the media, apart from the founder Peka, who hosts the show "Çim Peka Live" and is the director of the television, there are several well-known journalists on the board of the NGO. This includes Andi Bejtja, who is also the Director of Information at Syri TV. Apart from Bejtja, the board consists of renowned journalists such as Lutfi Dervishi, Sokol Shameti, Klodian Tomorri, and the editor-in-chief of "Rilindja Demokratike," the official organ of the Democratic Party, Bledi Kasmi.
Also on the board is Artan Hoxha, an economics professor, shareholder of Tirana Business University, and media analyst. Hoxha served as a minister in the first government of the Democratic Party in 1992-1993 and ran for the position of President from this party in 2012, a candidacy he withdrew from. The board also includes lawyers Brikena Kasmi, former Deputy Minister of Justice in the Democratic Party government from 2010 to 2013, and Armela Kromiçi, a lecturer at the University of Tirana.
Çlirim Peka, known also as Çim Peka is recognized as the founder and director of Syri TV and the online website syri.net. Peka, who previously led a TV show at UTV television, owned by former PD MP Astrit Veliaj, is known for his support for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and former President Ilir Meta. No other businesses or companies are registered under Çlirim Peka's name.
Both the television and Peka have been accused by pro-governmental media as being secretly financed by Shkëlzen Berisha, the son of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Syri TV and Peka has denied the accusations of hidden ownership and financing.
Apart from the editorial stance of Syri TV, the company that owns it and the Center for Open Information as the owner of the company, have individuals in their leadership closely linked to the Democratic Party led by former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. The company's administrator and one of the members of the NGO's board have been chosen as members of the National Council of the Democratic Party led by Berisha.
On the other hand, the television's stances towards the government have often led to clashes between the Prime Minister Edi Rama and the journalists of Syri TV. One of the leading journalists at Syri TV, Bledian Koka, was sued for defamation in April 2023 by the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, after an interview in which accusations were made about Veliaj's involvement in the controversial incinerator project of Tirana.The lawsuit was deemed an attempt to censor the media.
Audience Share
XX.XX%
Ownership Type
Private
Geographic Coverage
Local (Tiranë, Durrës, Fier, Korçë)
Content Type
Free-to-air (digital)
Media Companies / Groups
Center for Open Information
Ownership Structure
Syri Tv is owned by the company 3 DS & AF Entertainment, of which the shares are owned by the NGO Center for Open Information, founded by Çlirim Peka.
Voting Rights
The Center for Open Information, a Non-Governmental Organization founded by journalist Çlirim Peka, known as Çim Peka, holds all the shares.
Individual Owner
General Information
Founding Year
2020
Affiliated Interests Founder
The Center for Open Information, a Non-Governmental Organization, founded by the journalist Çlirim Peka, known as Çim Peka, acquired the company 3 DS & AF Entertainment from the Shena family in 2019. This company had owned Tirana TV Shpk (Now with suspended activity) since 2017, which was broadcasting under the name TNT. In November 2019, the Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) approved the request of 3 DS & AF Entertainment to change the television's name from TNT to Syri Tv, and in 2020, Syri Tv began broadcasting.
Çlirim Peka (Çim Peka) is recognized as the founder and director of Syri Tv and the online website syri.net. Peka, who previously led UTV television, owned by former PD deputy Astrit Veliaj, is known for his support for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and former President Ilir Meta. No other businesses or companies are registered under Çlirim Peka's name.
Both the television and Peka have been accused by pro-government media as being secretly financed and owned by Shkëlzen Berisha, the son of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. There have also been reports in the media about Peka's close relations with former President Ilir Meta. Peka has denied the accusations of hidden ownership and financing.
Apart from the editorial stance of Syri Tv, the company that owns it and the Center for Open Information as the owner of the company, have individuals in their leadership closely linked to the Democratic Party led by former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. The company's administrator and one of the members of the NGO's board have been chosen as members of the National Council of the Democratic Party led by Berisha.
On the other hand, the television's stances towards the government have often led to clashes between the journalists of this TV and Prime Minister Edi Rama or other representatives of the ruling majority. One of the leading journalists at Syri Tv, Bledian Koka, was sued for defamation in April 2020 by the mayor of Tirana, Erjon Veliaj, after an interview in which accusations were made about Veliaj's involvement in the controversial incinerator project of Tirana.
The lawsuit was deemed an attempt to censor the media. After the electoral campaign, Veliaj did not appear in the preliminary hearing, which led to the suspension of the process. The broadcasts of the television are also reposted on the online website syri.net.
Affiliated Interests Ceo
the administrator of the company 3 DS & AF Entertainment since October 2019. Spahija has a career as a high-level executive in the right-wing government of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. According to his profile on LinkedIn, he worked at the General Directorate of Customs until 2010 and from that time until 2013, he was the General Director of Taxes, one of the most important functions at this level of governance. Spahija resigned in 2013 with the arrival of the Socialist Party in government.
Spahija became involved in private activities and directly or indirectly owns several companies, mainly related to solar energy production and financial consultancy. According to data from the National Business Center, three companies are still active, while four are suspended.
Spahija didn't detach from politics; he is a member of the National Council of the Democratic Party, a group led by Sali Berisha. After the violent clash between supporters of Lulzim Basha and Sali Berisha on January 8, 2022, over the headquarters of the Democratic Party, Spahija was accused by the faction led by Basha as part of a group of mercenaries used to attack the Democrats.
In a written response, Spahija denied the use of violence and insisted that he had been a leading member of the Democratic Party for years in a row, including roles in electoral campaigns.
In opposing media, Spahija has been rumored to be close to Shkëlzen Berisha, the son of former Prime Minister Berisha.
Affiliated Interests Editor-In-Chief
the Director of Information at Syri TV. Bejtja is an experienced journalist with a long career in print and television media. He is known for his sharp and critical stances against the government led by Edi Rama.
Affiliated Interests other important people
a significant presence on the Albanian screen since the 1990s, is the host of the "A Show" program on Syri Tv.
leads the television program "Task-Forcë" on Syri Tv. Meço is an experienced journalist and has been a television show presenter for many years.
Contact
Rruga ''Veli Dedi'', Ndërtesa Nr.9, Kashar, Mëzez, Tiranë
Phone: + 355692090076
E-mail: gspahija@syritv.al
Website: www.syri.net
Financial Information
Revenue (in Mill. $)
1.28 Mln. $/ 146 Mln..Lek
Operating Profit (in Mill. $)
-0.07 Mln. $/-8 Mln..Lek
Advertising (in % of total funding)
Missing Data
Market Share
2.4%
Further Information
Meta Data
The ownership structure and financial balances are publicly available at the National Business Center in Albania. The secured financial data pertains to the year 2022. To convert the amounts into dollars, the average exchange rate of the Central Bank for the year 2022 was used. The financial statement is not separated for the three media units, television, radio, and the online platform, but is presented as the balance sheet of the 3 DS & AF Entertainment company. Audience share for Top TV stations was provided by Idra Media, for the period of 8 May 2022 to 8 May 2023. See sources for more.
