Vietnam Television (VTV) shared that since late November 2024, they have been engaging in discussions with pay-TV service providers regarding a new collaboration model. The goal is to “ensure a harmonious balance between content value, investment costs, and the interests of viewers and businesses”.
“Many providers have agreed with VTV on signal retransmission cooperation. For those with whom we have not yet reached an agreement, we lack the necessary legal basis to maintain signal provision for the entire channel package”, the statement reads.
This announcement follows the disappearance of VTV2 and VTV3 channels from platforms such as FPT Play, TV360, and MyTV on January 16th. All three platforms cited “failure to reach an agreement with Vietnam Television” as the reason.
VTV affirms that the VTV channel package is fundamental, “playing a significant role in attracting subscribers and generating substantial revenue for telecom businesses”. Alongside the essential VTV1 channel, which is broadcast for free, the package from VTV2 to VTV9, including VTV Can Tho, has been provided through retransmission contracts with pay-TV services for many years.
The article highlights that “the licensing fees paid by the units to VTV do not accurately reflect the value that VTV’s content brings to the pay-TV services”.
On January 20th, a meeting was held between television units, chaired by the Ministry of Information and Communications, to negotiate licensing fees and continue broadcasting the VTV channel package.
Currently, VTV channels, including VTV2 and VTV3, can be accessed through the VTVGo website and application, the DVB-T2 digital terrestrial television system, or pay-TV platforms that have reached agreements, such as VieON.
There has been a recent trend of decreasing channel counts on pay-TV platforms, following the withdrawal of channels from The Walt Disney in 2023 and, more recently, 13 channels from VTC and several other domestic and foreign channels.
According to the Ministry of Information and Communications’ statistics from late December 2024, Vietnam’s pay-TV subscriber base is estimated at 21.2 million, a 1% increase year-on-year. Service revenue (including VAT) is estimated at VND 10,500 billion, with 36 enterprises holding licenses to provide the service. The Ministry has set a target of reaching 22 million subscribers for 2025.
