Rules on foreign pay TV channel subtitles amended

The Ministry of Information and Communication has announced that the number of foreign television programmes requiring Vietnamese subtitles has been cut from four to two, following a decision by the Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Information and Communication has announced that the number of foreign television programmes requiring Vietnamese subtitles has been cut from four to two, following a decision by the Prime Minister.

Previously Vietnamese subtitles were required for feature films, news, science and education shows and entertainment programming, under regulations introduced in 2011.

However, according to the ministry, a lack of interpreters working at broadcasting stations has made covering all of these categories impossible, prompting the latest amendment. Now only feature films and entertainment programmes will require compulsory Vietnamese subtitles, although documentaries and reports about sports and music (which are classed as entertainment) will require translation.

According to ministry statistics, there are now 4.5 million pay TV customers in the country and 3 million of them subscribe to the national broadcasting station Vietnam Television (VTV).

Of this number, VCTV has 1.2 million, SCTV has 1.5 million and K+VTV (a joint venture with France's Canal Plus) has 400,000 satellite TV subscribers.