Regulation on operation of pay television

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has issued Decision 20/2011/QĐ-TTg on the management of the operation of Pay TV. Accordingly, Pay TV subscribers can install direct signal receivers from the satellite to use Pay TV services which are supplied by Vietnam’s Pay TV providers.

Pay TV services are provided directly (online TV services) or on demand (on demand TV services) to Pay TV subscribers.

According to this regulation, policy on Pay TV management is to encourage development of Pay TV in accordance with modern technology in order to support both transmissions of radio- television program channels, propagate information and policies of the Party and State and meet people’s increasing demand on entertainment.

Channels on pay TV

The domestic channels are broadcasted on Pay TVs including: public channels as regulated by press law and licensed channels produced for pay TV.

Foreign channels on pay TV in Vietnam must be edited and translated by a licensed agency in accordance with the regulation. In addition, foreign channels have contents which meet people’s demand, do not violate rules of Vietnam’s Law on Journal and do not contain built- in advertising programs from oversea. Advertising (if any) must be carried out in Vietnam and follows Vietnam’s regulation on advertising, excepting live programs such as sport matches, open and closing ceremonies of competition in regional and world scales.

Four types of Pay TV services

Pay TV services include four types namely cable TV, digital terrestrial TV, satellite TV and mobile TV. Pay TV has basic package including minimum programs with lowest charge in packages of service which is provided to subscribers by TV pay service Provider and shown in Contract of supplying Pay TV service.

In addition, there are advance service packages which supply various programs with different charges in accordance with subscriber’s demands.

In case, Pay TV service providers do not comply with Contract signed, Pay TV subscribers have right to claim for charges, quality of service and render charges and is paid other direct damages which is made by providers, excepting force majeure cases stipulated in the Contract.