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The revenues of Albanian public television from the sale of advertisements fell to only 72 million lek, (720 thousand euros) during the year 2023, compared to 217 million lek in 2022, a dramatic drop of 67%, as well as the highest level low income in at least three years.
The data have been published in the annual report of this institution, filed for review in the Parliament of Albania. The report does not contain explanations as to why this decrease in income occurred, except for the dry conclusion that it was 48% of the annual plan.
"The planning was made on the basis of forecasts from the Sales and Promotion Directorate, but during 2023 the realization does not remain at the levels predicted by this Directorate, " the report reads.
Unlike the income from the sale of advertisements, the direct financing from the taxpayers through the state budget increased by 50 million ALL, according to the report.
Albanians finance public television mainly through a tax that is paid by every family in the country in the amount of 100 lek per month, a payment that is made together with the electricity bill. This tax constitutes 60% of the public broadcaster's income, while taxpayers paid another 618 million lek last year through the state budget. Expenditures from the budget are intended to cover non-profit activities, such as satellite broadcasting for the diaspora or financing the symphony orchestra.
Revenues from the sale of various services, including advertising, cover less than 10% of expenses.
Public television is the television with the largest budget in the country. During the last year, the general expenses were 2.1 billion ALL or almost 20 million euros, this figure is significantly higher than the expenses of large national televisions such as Klan or Top Channel. However, although it operates in the same market, VAT derives a very small part of the revenue from advertising, a part that has become even smaller in the past year. Thus, advertising revenue accounted for 9.7% of spending in 2022, while falling to just 3.4% in 2023.
Public television usually has around 1,000 employees, while salary expenses increased last year, reaching 1.1 billion ALL, the report states.
The main income of the public broadcaster comes from the so-called "TV tax", which is paid by all existing homeowners in the country who have an electricity supply contract. These revenues have been stagnant over the past year, reflecting the failure of OSHEE's supply contract numbers.
The public broadcaster is in theory a politically independent institution. Its management board is elected by the parliament while the executive director is elected by the board. The current board was chosen mainly by the Socialist Party, while the current director is a former deputy and functionary of the Socialist Party./ BIRN
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