15
YEARS
VIETNAM TELEVISION
time equipment had to be evacuated
and the broadcast interrupted.
From January 1973, the broadcast
resumed. With a 50-meter-high
antenna pole built by itself at 58
Quan Su, television coverage
with a radius of 60 kilometers, the
number of television viewers were
increasing. During the war years,
TV reporters went to hot fronts
around the country, produced many
timely war reports, produced a
number of 16-mm documentaries,
some of which receiving prestigious
international awards. In early 1975,
film crews and television technicians
followed the footsteps of the
liberation army, promptly reflecting
the advanced points of the liberation
army and the new life of the people
of the South. In particular, the TV
broadcasting facilities of the old
regime were fully taken over by
television staff from Hanoi and in
turn restored and re-broadcast. The
television wave was not interrupted
after the liberation day. It can be said
that those who had been attached
to the Vietnamese television career
from the beginning had grasped
the opportunity, and moreover,
that opportunity was created by
themselves. Thanks to proactive
thinking, not waiting for written
assignments or for investment,
but knowing how to apply internal
resources so that in 1975, the
Vietnamese television industry had enough
technical staff and a team of reporters, editors
with rich experience, capable of performing
the unified management of television
throughout the country. By the end of 1975,
after mobilizing many staff members to the
South, a total of nearly 100 people, all of
whom were experienced staff in television,
the Television Editorial Board had only a
relatively thin force. All departments lacked
serious staff, especially managers. Therefore,
Voice of Vietnam immediately had to carry out
a major transfer of staff from radio and many
students from universities to supplement for
the Television Editorial Board. The Editorial
Board of Television continues to make
experimental TV programs with higher quality
than ever before.
Thedevelopment of televisionalways goes
hand in hand with the country’s economic,
social, scientific and technical development.
Television was not simply journalism, it is also
economic and technical. Since the birth of
television, our State has continued to invest
more in television development year on year.
As early as 1971, the Government granted
foreign currency to the television sector to
buy mobile TV vehicles and basic equipment.
The TV center in Giang Vo was granted
land by the state, and in 1973 the center
started to be build by the radio staff with the
equipment in the center that was provided
by other countries, mainly used equipment,
some of which being outdated compared to
the scientific and technical level of the world
at that time. But to us, it was so precious, and
was used creatively. From the beginning of
1976, the parts of the Radio and Television
Department in turn moved from 58 Quan Su
to the Giang Vo Center. On June 16th, 1976,
it was completed and officially broadcast from
Giang Vo. On June 18th, 1977, the Council of
Ministers issued Decree 164-CP to establish
the Vietnam Broadcasting and Television
Committee, and at the same time decided
to separate the Editorial Board of Television
from Voice of Vietnam into Central Television
Station. The child separated from the mother
to live separately, becoming an independent
entity, opening a new period of development.
From July 5th, 1976, we terminated trial
broadcasting, to switch to a daily official
broadcast. Due to daily broadcasting,
coverage had expanded, program
content quality had been significantly
improved, information was fast, many
economic and social issues were
reflected through investigative reports.
TV was increasingly attractive and
reputable in society.
Defining television as a general
electronic newspaper, the Central
Television Station focused on ensuring
the harmony between current and
political propaganda with meeting the
needs of raising awareness, scientific,
technical and literary education and
entertainment as well. For the first
time, people could enjoy theater
programs, music and movies on the
small screen without going to the
theater. In August 1978, the National
Television Technical Conference that
was held in Ho Chi Minh City agreed to
unify the national television technical
system according to the OIRT System
D / K system. On the basis of technical
unification, in December 1981, the
Central Television Station actively
invited television stations across the
country to meet in Hue to discuss
program exchanges between stations,
which was the first Television Festival.
And afterwards every year, it was held
at the end of the year.
On the basis of new equipment,
from September 3rd, 1978, the Central
Television Station tested color television
under SECAM-3b system, and from
July 1st, 1986, completely broadcast color
programs everyday. Central Television
Station had attained the position of a popular
and highly effective electronic newspaper.
In the years after the unification of the
country, due to the consequences of war,
embargo, and economic difficulties, the
Central Television Station gradually overcame
difficulties, renewed content, increased
broadcasting time, expanded coverage, that
enhanced the role of the station. Decree 72
/HDBT issued on April 3rd, 1987 decided
to dissolve the Vietnam Broadcasting and
Television Commission, shifting the Central
Television Station under the Government,
bearing the name of Vietnam Television
Station and being identified as National
Television.
After becoming a national station, Vietnam
Television developed at a fast and steady
pace. From January 1st, 1990, after VTV2
split and broadcast parallel with VTV1 in the
evening, and at the same time broadcast pilot
(Continued on page 16)
NGUYEN KIM TRACH
Tòa nhà trung tâm Đài THVN hiện nay
The current VTV central building