Albanian Screen
Albanian Screen was a now-defunct Albanian private television channel based in Tirana, originally launched as Alsat in 2003.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Albanian Screen was an Albanian commercial television channel headquartered in Tirana. The service began in 2003 under the Alsat name and operated during the expansion of private broadcasting in Albania after the end of the communist era. It developed as a general-interest broadcaster, combining news, political discussion, cultural programming, documentaries, films, entertainment formats and other locally oriented content. The channel was notable for seeking an audience beyond Albania. In its early period, Alsat became one of the first Albanian television services to use satellite distribution across Europe through the Eutelsat network. This allowed it to reach Albanian-speaking communities abroad, while its terrestrial service provided coverage within Albania. In March 2006, the business expanded its Albanian presence through the launch of a sister service identified as Alsat TV. Its programming included news and current-affairs formats such as “Dita Fillon në Alsat,” “Studio e Hapur,” “Kontrast” and “Skaner Kampionat.” After the Albanian operation was acquired by oil entrepreneur Rezart Taçi, the channel was rebranded as Albanian Screen in 2011. Under the new name, the schedule continued to mix information, debate, culture and entertainment, with programs including “Prizëm,” “Bugajski Hour,” “Shine,” “Dritë Hije” and “Oda e Librit.” Albanian Screen maintained terrestrial distribution across Albania and was also available by satellite in Europe, North Africa and parts of Western Asia. It later used digital terrestrial transmission in Tirana and nearby areas. The channel was regarded as one of Albania’s larger commercial broadcasters by revenue, but it encountered financial problems during the mid-2010s. It entered bankruptcy proceedings and ceased broadcasting on 5 June 2015. After the shutdown, former employees reportedly pursued legal claims concerning unpaid wages and social-security contributions. No current operating television service under the Albanian Screen name is identified in the supplied reference material.
History
Albanian Screen emerged from the first generation of private Albanian broadcasters established after the collapse of communist rule. The service was launched in 2003 under the name Alsat and operated from Tirana as a commercial, general-interest television channel. Its schedule was not limited to a single genre: it combined news, political debate, cultural programs, documentaries, movies and entertainment. This broad format enabled the station to compete for both mass audiences and viewers interested in public affairs and cultural content. A significant part of the channel’s development involved distribution outside Albania. Alsat became one of the early Albanian television services to transmit by satellite through the Eutelsat network, making its programming available to Albanian-speaking communities across Europe. Its distribution footprint was subsequently described as extending to Europe, North Africa and parts of Western Asia. The international reach complemented terrestrial broadcasting inside Albania and gave the service a role in connecting viewers in the diaspora with Albanian-language television. The operation expanded its domestic presence in March 2006 when a sister channel called Alsat TV was launched in Albania. The early schedule included programs such as “Dita Fillon në Alsat,” “Studio e Hapur,” “Kontrast” and “Skaner Kampionat,” reflecting the channel’s emphasis on morning programming, current affairs, political discussion and sports-related content. A major corporate change occurred in 2011. After the Albania-based affiliate was acquired by oil entrepreneur Rezart Taçi, it was renamed Albanian Screen. The rebranding gave the channel a distinct identity while retaining its role as a general television broadcaster. Programming under the Albanian Screen name included “Prizëm,” “Bugajski Hour,” “Shine,” “Dritë Hije” and “Oda e Librit.” The mix continued to include discussion, international or public-affairs content, entertainment and cultural programming. Albanian Screen used terrestrial transmission throughout Albania and later adopted digital terrestrial broadcasting in Tirana and surrounding regions. Its satellite availability preserved an international audience beyond the domestic market. Reference material characterizes it as one of Albania’s larger commercial broadcasters by revenue, although no independently documented financial figures are supplied here. The channel later experienced financial difficulties. It entered bankruptcy proceedings and stopped broadcasting on 5 June 2015, ending the operation under the Albanian Screen brand. The closure also generated employment-related disputes: several former workers reportedly brought legal claims concerning unpaid salaries and social-security contributions. The supplied sources do not establish a subsequent relaunch, successor brand or current operating entity, so Albanian Screen is treated as defunct.
- 2015
Broadcasting ends
[1]Albanian Screen ceases operations on 5 June after entering bankruptcy proceedings.
- 2011
Rebranding as Albanian Screen
[1]Following an acquisition associated with Rezart Taçi, the Albania-based affiliate adopts the Albanian Screen name.
- 2006
Alsat TV launches in Albania
[1]The operation expands with the launch of a sister channel called Alsat TV.
- 2003
Alsat launches
[1]The television service begins operating in Albania under the Alsat name as a private general-interest broadcaster.
Products and positioning
A general-interest Albanian private broadcaster serving domestic viewers while also targeting Albanian-speaking audiences abroad through satellite distribution.
Television channel · 2003
Alsat
The original television service launched in 2003. Alsat operated as a general-interest Albanian broadcaster, carrying news, political discussion, cultural material, documentaries, films and entertainment. It also pursued satellite distribution beyond Albania.
Sister television channel · 2006
Alsat TV
A sister channel launched in Albania in March 2006 as part of the operation’s domestic expansion. The supplied material does not provide a separate detailed schedule or later corporate history for this service.
Television channel · 2011
Albanian Screen
The post-2011 identity of the Albanian private broadcaster. It offered a mixed schedule of news, current affairs, cultural programming, documentaries, films and entertainment, with terrestrial coverage in Albania and satellite availability in several surrounding regions.
Brand decisions
2015
Exit from broadcasting through bankruptcyStrategyBackground
Financial difficulties affected the broadcaster during the mid-2010s.
Action taken
The company entered bankruptcy proceedings and ended Albanian Screen broadcasts on 5 June 2015.
Aftermath
The channel became defunct, and former employees reportedly pursued claims concerning unpaid salaries and social-security contributions.
2011
Acquisition and rebranding as Albanian ScreenM&ABackground
The Albania-based Alsat affiliate underwent an ownership change involving oil entrepreneur Rezart Taçi.
Action taken
The channel was acquired and renamed Albanian Screen.
Aftermath
The service continued as a general-interest broadcaster under the new name, with a revised lineup of programs.
2006
Launch of Alsat TVProduct launchBackground
The Alsat operation sought to broaden its presence in the Albanian television market.
Action taken
It launched a sister channel in Albania in March 2006.
Aftermath
The launch formed part of the broadcaster’s expansion before the later Albanian Screen rebranding.
Recent events
- 2015
Albanian Screen ceases operations after bankruptcy proceedings[1]
Bankruptcy
The channel stopped operating on 5 June 2015 after experiencing financial difficulties and entering bankruptcy proceedings.
- 2015
Former employees reportedly pursue claims over unpaid compensation[1]
Lawsuit
Following the closure, several former employees reportedly filed legal claims related to unpaid salaries and social-security contributions.
- 2011
Albanian Screen is created through the rebranding of Alsat[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Following an acquisition by oil entrepreneur Rezart Taçi, the Albania-based affiliate was rebranded from Alsat to Albanian Screen.
- 2006
Alsat expands its Albanian presence with a sister channel[1]
Product launch
The Alsat operation expanded in Albania with the launch of a sister channel identified as Alsat TV.
Sources2 sources
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