Most watched events and reportages in Albanian television

5. Gërdec explosions (

4. Ilir Meta scandal and aftermath protests (January 11th and 21st 2011)

On the evening of January 11th 2011, on Top Channel’s Fiks Fare was brodcast supposedly amateur footage containing conversations between two high state officials at the time, the then Economy Minister Dritan Prifti and then Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta. They were recorded discussing the illegal appointment of people to various public institutions and favouring subjects in tenders in return for material benefits. 
Prifti said he had made the recording in his office on March 1st 2010 (also appearing on the corner of the footage), saying he made the video because of interventions, pressure and requests from Meta to favour third parties in concessions and auctions.

The release of this footage caused public outcry and accusations towards Ilir Meta, who resigned from his post in the following days.

However, this did not solve the already fuming Albanian populace, who took their hatred towards the streets on January 21st 2011, causing an estimated 20,000 people attending an anti-government demonstration in Tirana. When a group of 600 protesters started throwing stones and Molotov cocktails the police reacted using tear gas and batons. Live fire was at some point used against demonstrators in the crowd, killing three demonstrators on the spot and injuring another who died after a week-long coma.

The Albanian prime minister at the time, Sali Berisha was also left under hot water for being accused for causing the deaths of the 4 people in the protests. Later on, this event caused many discussions and each general television channel in Albania had their own perspective to the event. To this day, like the Gërdec explosions, the event is remembered by the Albania media every January 21st in rememberance to the 4 dead victims.

3. Big Brother VIP 1 finale (February 18th 2022)

As the first season of the much anticipated Big Brother VIP series in Albania, positive 
2. Albania (2) - Greece (1) match (September 4th 2004)

Possibly one of the most important matches of Albanian football, and considered by Albanian football fans as the best football game to have ever occured in Albania. 

At the time of the matches occuring for the European Qualifiers, Greece had not been defeated by any other European team. The match prior to the one with Albania was when the Greeks had a match with Portugal. After the Portuguese’s defeat from the Greeks, Albanians assured the Greeks that they weren’t going to win, with Albanian football fans collaborately holding up a sign saying “This is not Portugal”. Anticipation for the possible victory of Albania was high and as such almost all Albanian football viewers (or almost all Albanian males) were viewing the match. 

With the progressive goal from the Greek team, two goals were scored by the footballers Ardian Aliaj and Edvin Murati, effectively making the Albanian football team the winners. The following day, about all Albanian newspapers featured the headline “Europe, this is how Greece is beaten!”, in reference to how all European teams lost to Greece.

1. Big Brother VIP 2 finale (May 6th 2023)

This is widely regarded as the most viewed program in the history of Albanian television. In already risen popularity and expected victory, Luiz Ejlli won first place against Krist Aliaj. 

Luiz Ejlli, who was a popular figure in the Big Brother VIP house, got his initial popularity after mentioning to Kiara Tito, his later would-be fiancee in January of 2023 that he suffered from a tumor. Many people instantly sympathized with him and as such he reached soaring levels of popularity, despite later on being confirmed he had no health issues and being accused of lying. Subsequently he was reported as having bronchiectasis, yet no mentions were made of it and him having any diseases after a short time.

This did not lower his popularity however, currently making him one of the most popular figures of Albanian media. In a matter of days a new movie featuring him in his first movie role and co-starred by his former housemate Olta Gixhari titled “Në kuadër të dashurisë” will be screened starting Monday October 9th, with additional screenings made the days following. This is also the first movie to be produced by Top Channel’s new cinematic division “Top Channel Films”.