Televisions, not a good business in Albania, especially for news

 

In the last decade, the opening of television news turned into a trend. "A2 Media" brought the brand of the well-known news channel CNN, as a subsidiary, "Euronews" entered directly with its brand, and several local television stations such as "Syri Tv" or "MCN" were opened.

The financial data of the television shows that the enterprise of informing the public is not a good business, at least directly. Even after several years of activity, their income is minimally increasing or decreasing, while some result in losses.

The market is dominated by the two big televisions, "Tv Klan" and "Top Channel", which take the largest part of the advertising budgets and manage to result in profits, although these too with minimal rates.

The annual turnover of the 11 televisions that reported data in 2023 was ALL 6.7 billion, with an increase of 13.5% on an annual basis. (the balance sheets of Ora and Ora News are missing, whose activity has been seized by the Seized and Confiscated Assets Administration Agency and they have not submitted the 2023 balance sheet).

"Klan" and "Top Channel" continue to dominate, with about 60% of the total turnover and are the only ones reporting turnover levels from 17-25 million euros and have led the growth of the entire market in 2023.

For other operators, the maximum limit is around 5.5 million euros. These two televisions have a more stable financial result, with profit rates ranging from 6-13%.

Especially for news television, which has grown significantly in recent years, it has not been a good year for the second year in a row, as they report a decline in revenue and result in losses.

Out of 11 television stations, 7 of them reported losses and 4 recorded a decrease in income. The low advertising market, the lack of entry of large companies in recent years, which would increase the marketing budgets, as well as the transfer of part of the campaigns online, or through influencers, have shrunk the sources of income for the many televisions in place.

"TV Klan " continued to be the largest television in the country even in 2023 by free broadcasters. Revenues reached almost 2.5 billion ALL, with an expansion of 19%, the highest level ever recorded.

Profits tripled to 324 million ALL, again achieving the best year in terms of profitability. The profit rate was 13%.

"Top Channel"  is the second largest in the country. Television revenues were ALL 1.75 billion in 2023, with an expansion of nearly 22% on an annual basis. Profits almost doubled, to 107 million ALL. The profit rate was 6.1%.

"Media Vizion" (Vizion Plus)  reported income of 544 million ALL, with a 25% increase on an annual basis. Profits were 20 million ALL, with a rate of 3.7%.

"TV A2"  increased revenues by 10%, to 456 million ALL, while profits were minimal, to 4.3 million ALL, with a rate of only 1%.

"ABC  News "  climbed to fifth place. Revenues fell slightly by 4%, to 333 million ALL. The television declared a loss of 20.4 million ALL.

" News  24"  has reported a 9.2% decrease in revenue, to 315 million ALL, dropping to sixth place and has declared a loss of 66 million ALL.

"Report TV"  (MTSC) resulted in an income of 280 million ALL, with a 7% contraction and reported a loss of 25.6 million ALL.

"Euro News "  was one of the few that declared a strong increase in income, by 20%, to 259 million ALL. The company continues to make losses since the beginning of the activity, which in 2023 was 89 million ALL.

"Syri TV"  declared an income of 114 million ALL, with an increase of about 7%.

"Scan" television   had an income of 106 million ALL (-16.6%).

"MCN TV" (Johaniteri)  reported an income of 70 million alleks and a loss of 30 million alleks./Monitor