Top News Explained

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]

History

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]

Trivia

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]

Programs

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 27 July 2008 . Top News ID, Top News . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230902084444/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_8wZW2AUfs . 2 September 2023 . 29 August 2023 . YouTube.
  2. Web site: 12 February 2007 . Gazeta Shqip PDF . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070213073016/http://www.gazeta-shqip.com:80/gazeta/gazeta.pdf . 2007-02-13 . 2023-12-03 . Gazeta Shqip.
  3. Web site: 10 December 2022 . Top Channel Publicitet - 23 Janar 2010 (3) . Top Channel Publicity - 23 January 2010 (3) . 2023-12-17 . YouTube.
  4. Web site: 2007-02-07 . KingOfSat - Zap! . 2023-12-03 . KingOfSat.
  5. Web site: 16 May 2018 . Top News LIVE . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180516152106/https://top-channel.tv/topnewslive/ . 2018-05-16 . 2023-09-23 . Top Channel.
  6. Web site: Top News LIVE . 2023-09-23 . Twitch.
  7. Web site: 2 January 2021 . Top News Banner change - 2nd day / 2 January 2021 (PHOTO ONLY) and happy new year . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230829121415/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3rM_klJNXQ . 29 August 2023 . 29 August 2023 . YouTube.
  8. Web site: 10 February 2022 . Top News Publicitet bumper - (1 Mars 2021 - 10 Korrik 2021) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230902083431/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NlxnZZrh1c . 2 September 2023 . 2 September 2023 . YouTube.
  9. Web site: Dani . Behar . 26 May 2009 . TOP NEWS INFORMOHU I PARI by Behar Dani . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230909072413/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJcjTEei2ho . 2023-09-09 . 2023-09-09 . YouTube.
  10. Web site: 4 January 2008 . gazetaret e televizionit top news . Journalists of television (channel) Top News . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230829122214/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thY40jiw7kA . 29 August 2023 . 29 August 2023 . YouTube.
  11. Web site: 1 January 2009 . top news viti i ri . top news new year . 2023-12-03 . YouTube.
  12. Web site: 19 October 2013 . TopNews Albania (16E) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230829121812/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ibHbEHLIa0 . 29 August 2023 . 29 August 2023 . YouTube.
  13. Web site: 12 December 2018 . LIVE në YouTube/ Vijon protesta e studentëve . LIVE on YouTube/ The student protest continues . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230908133852/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znUXcCnT9_k . 2023-09-08 . 2023-09-08 . YouTube.
  14. Web site: 2023-11-16 . (900 SUBSCRIBERS SPECIAL) Top Channel Publicitet - 23 Qershor 2017 (incomplete, audio only) . 2023-12-03 . YouTube.