AMA Chairperson Armela Krasniqi stated that the process—initiated in 2022 with an agreement in principle between the two institutions—was finalized after four years of technical discussions, consultations and negotiations.

The agreement establishes the technical parameters and conditions for the coordinated use of frequencies by Albania and Montenegro, aiming to prevent harmful cross-border interference and ensure more efficient spectrum utilization.

According to Krasniqi, the agreement also creates conditions for the further development of digital terrestrial television (DTT) networks.

Krasniqi emphasized that, “This process aligns with broader European spectrum replanning initiatives, including Decision (EU) 2017/899 and the global standards established at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23).”

In context of the agreement signing, the AMA representative highlighted the institutional cooperation with the Montenegrin side and the commitment shown by the technical teams of both institutions throughout the process. /e.i/a.f/r.e/p.s./

“I am posting these data-backed reports to prove that Albania has no ties to autocracies, despite the daily noise from political critics and media figures. I share this only to highlight the bitterness of those who demand to know why this government isn’t falling—failing to see that it stands simply because their vision of the country is fueled by cynicism rather than a real understanding of Albania”, Rama said.

In June 2026, main news programs gave political parties a total of 402.47 minutes of airtime, according to report of the Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA). The opposition received 63.95% of this coverage, while the Socialist Party took 36.05%.

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During the meeting, Krasniqi addressed the ambassador’s questions regarding the AMA’s regulatory role, the transparency of media ownership, public accessibility and the administrative and legal mechanisms that guarantee citizens and interest groups a fair process for handling complaints about audiovisual content.

Krasniqi also informed him about the role of the AMA in guaranteeing the balance between freedom of expression and the protection of the public from harmful content.

They also discussed AMA’s work with TikTok and X to curb harmful content—a modern regulatory practice that meets new media challenges and aligns with European digital standards.

Ambassador Braathu praised the progress achieved by the AMA in strengthening the standards of the rule of law and freedom of expression, emphasizing that the experience of the Albanian regulator constitutes an important reference model for regulators in Southeast European countries.

The OSCE is one of the strategic partners of the AMA in strengthening democratic standards, freedom of expression and consolidating an independent, transparent media environment in line with European standards. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

Krasniqi participated in the panel “Transparency of Media Ownership in Practice: A Regional Comparative Analysis.” The discussion featured Olaf Steenfadt, Founder and Director of the Global Media Registry and President of the Board of the Council of Media Ethics in North Macedonia Leunora Kaliqi, and was moderated by Marius Dragomir, Director of the Media and Journalism Research Center.

During her address, the Chairperson of the AMA unveiled the media ownership transparency registry. Hosted on the AMA website, this detailed database traces media ownership through to the final beneficiaries. Krasniqi also outlined the legal reforms introduced in January and discussed insights from the Periodic Bulletin, which tracks the broader business investments of media entities.

The panel discussions provided a great opportunity to exchange experiences and forge new partnerships for future collaboration.

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Armela Krasniqi, head of the Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA), met the head of the OSCE Presence in Tirana, Ambassador Michel Tarran, to review recent developments in the sector.

Talks focused on progress in increasing transparency of media ownership, recent legal amendments and further steps to consolidate a modern regulatory framework aligned with European standards.

Tarran welcomed parliament’s approval of amendments to the law on audiovisual media, describing them as a step toward strengthening transparency, accountability and pluralism in the sector.

The two sides also underlined the importance of establishing and operationalising a register of ownership for audiovisual media service providers as a key tool to ensure transparency and credibility.

Discussions covered AMA’s role in promoting media literacy and nationwide awareness campaigns aimed at strengthening critical thinking and protecting citizens, particularly young people, from harmful content.

The visit to AMA departments reviewed efforts to bolster the regulator’s monitoring capacities, including during election periods, and further technical and institutional support in line with recommendations from the OSCE’s election monitoring arm, ODIHR, to ensure high professional standards in media oversight.

“OSCE has always been an important partner in our efforts to align with European standards, in support of media freedom and the development of an independent, transparent and pluralistic media environment in Albania,” Krasniqi said.

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Krasniqi said that these cases focused on aspects such as: the protection of children from inappropriate content; hate speech and discrimination; gender equality; ethical violations in general; advertising and commercial communications; the use of written and spoken standard Albanian; respect for warning signs in certain time slots; the program integrity of the Albanian Radio-Television platform, etc.

“In addition to improving capacities in terms of internal institutional functioning, the priority of the Audiovisual Media Authority’s engagement has been to further align itself with the standards of a regulator of an EU member country,” said Krasniqi.

Krasniqi also focused on the cooperation with the TikTok platform, where there is opened a dedicated reporting channel, where the Authority mediated the reflection of complaints from Albanian users for harmful content.

“AMA has also opened a special window on its website, which enabled the submission of complaints by the public, referring to harmful content published on TikTok,” Krasniqi emphasized.

According to her, piracy of Albanian audiovisual products is a very worrying phenomenon.

After identifying these violators, Krasniqi continued, AMA has reported them to other law enforcement institutions, such as the State Police or the prosecutor’s office with official evidence attached.

AMA Chairwoman stated that, “During the work on supervision and regulation of the audio/audiovisual market, AMA has imposed 48 administrative measures with fines and 107 warnings during 2024.

Within the framework of the Roadmap for the Rule of Law, Krasniqi emphasized that AMA has the duty to address issues such as the concentration of the media market, increasing transparency and audience measurement, one of the institution’s ongoing priorities. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

AMA Chairwoman Armela Krasniqi announced today that AMA has established a cooperation bridge with the X platform, to monitor and follow up with priority any potentially harmful content in the Albanian language, which is distributed on this platform.

This cooperation foresees a dedicated channel for AMA on the X Platform, through which will be communicated any harmful content that displays or incites violence of any kind, with hate speech, content that violates the rights of children and communities, fundamental human rights and freedoms, etc.

“Our priority is to ensure a clean digital environment, free of violence and hatred and the protection of the rights of children or communities, wrote Krasniqi, while expressing gratitude for this cooperation found with the X platform. /k.s//a.f/p.s./

Krasniqi said that illegal IPTV transmitter was initially caught in Kukës and then transferred to other servers across Europe.

“The fight against piracy is won with partnership and teamwork,” Krasniqi wrote in the social media.

The IPTV case was reported to AKEP, Regulatory Authority for Electronic and Postal Communications for closure and AMA specialists also reported the case to the Prosecutor’s Office.

However, the illegal entity continued its activity, in violation of broadcasting rights, using, initially, servers located in Germany, and after the blocking there, also in Romania.

“Thanks to the cooperation with international partners, where she mentioned Hetzner Online GmbH, in Germany, the same Albanian entity was blocked again and the illegal activity was stopped,” wrote Krasniqi.

“While today, after the AMA teams ascertained that the same entity operates based on Romanian servers. Hence, we have established contacts with NexonHost,” said Krasniqi. /e.i/r.e/p.s./

During the meeting, Krasniqi responded to their interest in the preparations that the AMA has made for the smooth running of the monitoring process of the electoral campaign coverage by the Audiovisual Media Service Provider.

In context of this process, the monitors have been trained, according to the requirements stipulated in the Electoral Code and according to the Monitoring Methodology drafted by the Central Election Commission (CEC).

Krasniqi said that, “All technical, logistical and administrative measures have been taken to do the utmost in this process. We have started cooperation with the CEC since January of the current year, aiming at monitoring of the activities that the Commission has considered prohibited”.

The OSCE/ODIHR mission inquired about specific aspects of the monitoring process, such as the time allocation between competing entities, the political advertisements that are broadcast, the presentation of election polls, etc.

Krasniqi said that the findings of the monitoring of Audiovisual Media Service Provider are periodically published on the official website of the CEC.

“Not only political parties and Audiovisual Media Service Provider, but also anyone interested in this information have access to these data. Most entities that are engaged in the progress and dynamics of the electoral campaign, organizations, institutions and individuals, refer to the findings of the AMA on the way in which Audiovisual Media Service Provider covers this process throughout the month”, said Krasniqi. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

On the sidelines of the 22nd Plenary meeting of the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA), which is taking place in Rome, AMA Chairwoman Armela Krasniqi signed a memorandum of cooperation with her Portuguese counterpart Helena Sousa.

The memorandum aims to create a legal framework for increasing cooperation in areas of interest and mutual assistance between the regulators of the two countries.

The memorandum is based on three important pillars: Media education; Methodology for monitoring audiovisual content; Expert exchange programs.

“It is a rather important memorandum for the future of our institution,” said AMA chairwoman. “We hope to cooperate in areas such as quantitative and qualitative media monitoring, media education, technology and other areas. We will exchange as much information as possible with each other regarding all the challenges that our regulators face,” said Krasniqi. /r.e/p.s./