As technology continues to evolve and viewers' habits gradually change, digital transformation has become an inevitable path for television stations amid fierce competition from the Internet and social media. Embracing this trend, in recent years, Vietnam Television (VTV) has actively accelerated its digital transformation process.
According to the announcement of the Journalism Digital Transformation Support Center, Vietnam Television ranks first among the top 10 media organizations that have achieved an excellent level of digital transformation maturity in 2023. Additionally, VTV leads the group of 5 broadcasting media agencies in terms of digital transformation maturity in 2023.
One of the most prominent results of VTV’s strong digital transformation is the development of the VTVGo app. Launched 10 years ago with the initial goal of allowing viewers to watch VTV programs for free, VTVGo has been continuously improved and has become a familiar app for tens of millions of viewers nationwide and worldwide.
After a period of validation and thorough evaluation, and with a broad public acceptance, the app has now met all technical infrastructure, technology, and information security requirements.
On October 9, in response to the National Digital Transformation Day (October 10), VTV held a special event, which included the official launch of the National Online Digital Television Platform VTVGo.
The event was attended by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam - Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. Le Quang Tu Do - Director General of the Authority of Broadcasting, Television and Electronic Information (Ministry of Information and Communications), Mr. Dinh Dac Vinh - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Television, Mr. Do Thanh Hai - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Television, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Hung - Deputy General Director of Vietnam News Agency, along with representatives from media organizations and digital enterprises.
Speaking at the launch event, Mr. Dinh Dac Vinh, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Television, stated: "With the goal of advancing digital transformation, in addition to developing a traditional television system, Vietnam Television is also building a television system on digital platforms and social media to reach digital audiences. Among these, VTVGo is an important core platform for Vietnam Television in the transmission and distribution of television content. In 2023, for the first time, Vietnam Television officially announced VTVGo as the national digital television platform".
The Deputy General Director of Vietnam Television emphasized that, as a national digital television platform, VTVGo currently meets the basic requirements for content distribution. However, in the future, to distribute more and broader content, all local stations, ministries, sectors, and VTV must work together to bring content onto VTVGo and build a strong content ecosystem. In addition, to better reach both domestic and international audiences, data utilization is an area that Vietnam Television must focus on developing.
With the coordination, support, and direction from the Ministry of Information and Communications, VTVGo has been integrated into smart TVs manufactured, imported, and distributed in Vietnam since 2024. Several major TV manufacturers have pre-installed the VTVGo app on the main interface of their TV screens. According to Mr. Dinh Dac Vinh, Vietnam Television has also collaborated with TV manufacturers to add a dedicated VTVGo shortcut button on remote controls starting in 2024, making it more convenient for viewers to access television programs on VTVGo.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, emphasized that Vietnam Television’s organization of activities in response to National Digital Transformation Day and the official announcement of the national online digital television platform VTVGo is highly meaningful. It not only highlights the achievements VTV has made in its digital transformation journey but also helps spread the spirit of digital transformation to media organizations in general, sharing valuable experiences to ensure successful digital transformation across agencies.
"In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution's explosion, digital transformation is considered a mandatory approach for all sectors and fields, and journalism is no exception. In the past, the 'weapons' of journalism were paper and pen, but today, its 'powerful weapon' is technology, particularly digital technology. People now primarily access information in cyberspace, so broadcasting and television agencies must also use technology to establish their position in this space, contribute to guiding public opinion, affirm sovereignty in the digital domain, and protect the Party's ideological foundation in cyberspace, where intense struggles take place, in order to uphold positive values in life", emphasized the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications.
According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, Vietnam Television is currently one of the leading units in digital transformation and has achieved many remarkable milestones. By promoting VTVGo as the national digital television platform and an information channel widely used by people not only in Vietnam but around the world, VTV has asserted its position as the national broadcaster in digital transformation, demonstrating its role in guiding public opinion, maintaining sovereignty over information in cyberspace, enhancing viewer experience, generating new revenue streams, and advancing the digital content industry.
The Deputy Minister of Information and Communications affirmed: "What is impressive is that Vietnam Television, in its quest to go far, has not gone alone but has chosen to go together with television stations across the country. Today, VTVGo is not only the digital television platform of the national broadcaster but also the digital platform of television in Vietnam".
According to the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, there is still much to be done in the coming period for the national online digital television platform VTVGo to maintain its national stature in terms of scale, content quality, and technological infrastructure, which will require joint efforts from Vietnam Television, regulatory agencies, and Vietnam's digital technology ecosystem.
"In terms of content, VTVGo must become a content distribution hub, providing a full and diverse range of television channels from Vietnam Television, national essential channels, and essential channels from 63 local radio and television stations. In terms of technological infrastructure, VTVGo needs a modern transmission and distribution infrastructure with high information security, applying advanced technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence to offer a highly personalized and interactive experience for domestic and international audiences. This will help optimize content management, development, and business based on digital data, allowing the collection of not only viewer behavior data but also audience feedback. In terms of coverage and popularity, VTVGo must be pre-installed on all smart TVs and soon on all smartphones and smart tablets distributed in the Vietnamese market. Vietnam Television has set a target of reaching 30 million users by 2030", emphasized Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam.
In recent times, the functional units of the Ministry of Information and Communications, including the Authority of Broadcasting, Television and Electronic Information and the National Digital Transformation Department, have actively supported Vietnam Television in promoting the development of the national digital television platform VTVGo. While there are still challenges, the Deputy Minister expressed confidence that the VTVGo platform will continue to grow strongly, compete with cross-border OTT platforms, and contribute to maintaining national sovereignty in cyberspace, while protecting Vietnam's core cultural values in the digital age.
The Deputy Minister of Information and Communications highly appreciated the development direction of Vietnam Television in its journey to becoming the nation's leading multimedia agency, with the guiding principle of placing the audience at the center—'"VTV will be wherever the audience is".
Currently, VTVGo has over 8 million regular users, including 6 million on mobile devices and 2 million on smart TVs. VTVGo is available on all app stores for mobile devices and smart TVs, with 47 million installs and consistently ranking among the most downloaded apps.
