| Top News | |
| Owner: | Top Media Group Sh.A |
| Founder: | Dritan Hoxha |
| Launch Date: | 12 February 2007 |
| Picture Format: | 576i (SDTV /), 720p50 (HDTV) |
| Network: | DigitAlb |
| Type: | 24/7 news channel |
| Country: | Albania |
| Language: | Albanian |
| Area: | Eutelsat 16A |
| Headquarters: | Tirana, Albania |
| Sister Channels: | Top Channel |
| Founded: | 18 December 2006 |
| Terr Serv 1: | DigitAlb |
| Terr Chan 1: | Channel 2, Albania |
Top News is a 24-hour Albanian television news channel that first aired on 12 February 2007.[1] [2]
Top News is owned by the Top Media Group which also owns Top Channel, Top Albania Radio, and DigitAlb. Top News is available via DigitAlb on all three of its formats - satellite, terrestrial and via mobile phone and via Home2US in North America with Top Channel, RTK and MusicAL.[3]
Originally, the channel was going to be called DigiNews.
On December 18, 2006, the channel has been created and had started experimental broadcasts to prepare for the channel's release.[4]
On February 12, 2007, the channel has started its first public broadcast by the Top Media group to broadcast just like Top Channel but in 24/7 news. The idents/jingles and channel layout would make the channel more popular to watch news, especially during the 2018–2019 student protest in Albania and the 2019 Albania earthquake in which Top Channel livestreamed multiple protests and even daily broadcasts about the earthquake on YouTube to make it more accessible.
In 2017 or 2018, the channel is now available on a 24/7 livestream via Dailymotion, and at Top Channel's site. Later on the livestream would be moved to Twitch.[5] [6]
On February 10, 2020, the channel changed its idents to a simpler version.
On January 1, 2021, HD support had been added and the channel remade the channel's layout and to this day they still use them. A day later the logo even got changed to a more simple version, which are still in use.[7]
On March 1, 2021, even the idents were changed to a way more simpler version. These new idents are still in use. Later on they included programs on this channel.[8]
Every hour, the channel plays their hourly introduction ident after ending the photonews (fotolajm) section.
Every thirty minutes after the hour, the channel features the weather for today and tomorrow.
Top News itself even has an introduction video which teases how would the channel look like. The video was made by Behar Dani according to the video's title.[9]
The staff at Top News even made New Year videos sometimes. For the New Year of 2008 and 2009 the "Top News" staff made videos of them wishing viewers a happy new year inside their studio.[10] [11]
Their slogan: "Informohu i pari...", meaning "The first to inform", was used since its foundation.[12]
They even used another slogan in their new hourly (o'clock) ident in 2021 which says: "Raportim mbi fakte", meaning "Reporting on facts".
Their website: "www.top-news.tv" redirected to Top Channel's website (https://top-channel.tv) which was used in their previous hourly ident.
There is also one command used on the description of the news/sport/economy information named "$NEWSP" and it was used since its foundation.[13]
Since the airing of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix of Formula 1 on Top News on June 25, 2017,[14] the channel began to include programs from Top Channel and in 2021 the channel got programs of their own.
| Original name | Format |
|---|---|
| Formula 1 | Motorsport championship held worldwide (2017 only) |
| Inside Story | Documentary program |
| Ora e Tiranës | Weekly program about Tirana |
| Breaking | Informational program |
| Business In | Business Magazine |
| Lindje Perëndim | Political Magazine |
| Cartel | Documentary program |
| Open | Political talk show |
| Top Talk | Talk show |