Albert Dumani, head of programming and acquisitions at TVKLAN, Albania’s most-watched national television, has a clear mission for this year: stay number one by staying in tune with the audience. As a generalist network targeting viewers aged 4 and up, the broadcaster’s strategy revolves around offering a rich mix of locally produced shows and top-tier international acquisitions.
This season marks the debut of X Factor Kids on TVKLAN, following six successful adult seasons. ‘We’re producing it at the same level of scenography and lighting as the British or Italian versions. It’s about bringing international-standard production home’ says Dumani.
Attracting younger viewers is a priority too, with a programming focus on action, thriller, and mafia series. Dumani sees content both as a creative and business decision: ‘It’s a personal and professional pleasure to affirm that TVKLAN will be the most-watched television again this year’.
The broadcaster also holds exclusive rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing its dominance in live event programming.
When it comes to acquisitions, Dumani values strong storytelling, original acting, and high production values:‘I evaluate content by watching several episodes myself. I also look at international performance, reviews, awards, sales figures, and success in other territories’.
Given Albania’s market size, exclusive rights are a must. ‘Splitting between pay and free TV doesn’t make sense here’, Dumani notes.
Asked about content trends, Albert Dumani points to the ongoing dominance of Turkish drama: ‘They remain number one for our audience. They feel real, natural stories with perfect acting. Their success in countries like Spain, Brazil, and Argentina shows it’s a global phenomenon’.
Purchasing decisions, he says, are about balancing emotion and analytics: ‘It’s art and math. You need to assess demand, trends, buzz, and of course cost versus potential ad revenue’.
Dumani acknowledges that streaming platforms are transforming the acquisition landscape:‘More platforms mean more demand and higher prices. It pushes us to be more strategic in our choices’.
