Hoxha Family

Hoxha family controls one of the biggest media houses in Albania with the flagship name TOP, as in TOP Channel, TOP News, TOP Albania Radio etc. Dritan Hoxha, a controversial businessman who started his career as a coffee importer, founded Top media and was dubbed a ‘pioneer of digital media’ in the region. Dritan Hoxha started his media empire by founding Top Albania Radio in 1998 and three years later Top Channel TV, which in a short period of time became the most popular television in Albania, due to his staff of famous journalists and cutting-edge technology.

In 2004 Hoxha launched the pay-per-view platform DigitAlb, which strengthened further his media conglomerate, Top Media. Hoxha died on May 23, 2008 at the age of 40, in a deadly accident with his Ferrari 599. His funeral was attended by high state dignitaries of the time, such as President Bamir Topi and current Prime Minister Edi Rama.

After his death, his widow Vjollca and their four children, Lorela, Sara, Redia and Itan inherited his companies. However, Vjollca kept a low public profile until 2015, when she took over the administration of Top Channel JSC and filed a lawsuit against two of its shareholders, Albert Sino and Aurel Baci, who she accused of acquiring the stakes in the company illegally. Hoxha won the case on 28 June 2017 and took control of 100% of the shares of Top Channel JSC, together with her children.

In addition to Top Channel, the Hoxha family owns 51% of DigitAlb, Top Albania Radio, the online portal Gazeta-Shqip.com, SARAS publishing house, the music distribution company My Music and shares at the telecommunication company Plus. Since 2014, Top Channel JSC is involved in a joint venture company called Hightel Tower Albania, together with its main competitor TV Klan and the businessman Samir Mane.