(VOV) - The eighth Asia Media Summit (AMS 8) will provide a platform for broadcasters from around the globe to share experiences and seek partners and cooperative opportunities for the sake of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan.
Mr. Nhan made the statement at the opening session of AMS 8 in Hanoi on May 25. He emphasized that the Government of Vietnam attaches great importance to the development of the media and has enacted many effective policies to facilitate the broadcasting industry in each stage of development of the nation.
67 radio and TV stations across Vietnam, with Radio the Voice of Vietnam and Vietnam Television serving as the cornerstone, currently offer nearly 200 public channels. The pay TV network has also expanded significantly over recent years, providing 50 domestic and 75 foreign channels.
Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan highlighted VOV’s efforts to host the 8th AMS
Mr. Nhan said that the application of the latest state-of-the-art broadcasting technologies has enabled radio and TV coverage to reach more than 99 percent and nearly 95 percent of Vietnam’s territory respectively by 2007. Radio and TV coverage is almost 100 percent in Vietnam.
The fact that Broad-band Internet services are now available in 87 percent of the communes, wards and townships with more than 20 million regular users and all schools in Vietnam, from primary to high schools having enjoyed free-of-charge access to the Internet since 2010 show that the priority has been given to online radio and TV in the country. 3G telecommunications services available in Vietnam since 2009 and 4G services, have provided a trial basis for people, particularly the young one, to access mobile radio and TV, the Internet and other services from their mobiles phones.
He added that the powerful development of science and technology, particularly the ever-increasing application of digital technologies has posed both challenges and opportunities for the broadcasting industry. Thus, the Vietnamese Government has defined specific orientations and steps to be taken as well as closely directed the trial application of advanced technologies in broadcasting services.
After a 4-year trial, the Government decided to introduce digital terrestrial television services using the European-based DVB-T standard throughout the country in 2005, making Vietnam one of the first nations in the region and the world to digitize broadcasting transmission.
In 2009, the Government approved a plan for digitization of broadcasting transmission till 2020. Under this blueprint, Vietnam will basically put an end to terrestrial TV transmission and broadcasting using analogue technologies by 2020, he said, adding that the plan once again shows our determination to speed up digitization in line with global technological tendencies.
VOV President Vu Van Hien believed that with “digital everywhere”,
the battle for attention is more intense than ever.
In a speech delivered at the conference, VOV President Vu Van Hien emphasized that with the strong support of the Government, VOV has made breakthroughs in applying advanced radio technologies including digital technology to make its services more effective and attractive.
To date, VOV has comprehensively digitalized its programming and transmission and is one of a few radio stations in the region that have taken the lead in digital audio archive and the trial of DRM and HD Radio digital standards. With its resolute determination and tireless efforts in technology innovation, VOV is proud to be the only media agency in Vietnam to use all means of communication - radio, TV print and online. It has proved to be one of the most important, powerful, and prestigious media agencies in Vietnam in service of domestic and foreign audiences.
Addressing the event, the President of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), Thoyyib Mohamed Waheed, stressed that audiences are fragmenting, becoming more discriminating in program choice, demanding a medium that’s available anywhere and anytime, one that can justify their investments in time and resources. With emails, blogs, facebooks and twitter, they have assumed an important media role – using new media through text, audio and video to spread information, engage and empower other audiences across the globe.
He said that Radio and television need to be a dynamic platform that incorporates new digital technology, that accommodates changing consumers’ experiences, and that allows for creative strategies to perform financially and pursue their role in development more effectively.
The AIBD President added that AMS has become increasingly important to the industry and to other stakeholders. The summit has also reflected the consequence and impact of the digital media landscape and offered an opportunity for participants to put forth solutions to reposition broadcasting and tap digital media to attract and retain audiences.
Mr. Waheed assured that the AIBD members will take advantage of this forum to deliver more and better results to our respective constituents and stakeholders.
The AIBD Director Yang Binyuan stressed that AMS is the most important global media gathering and the best forum for knowledge sharing and networking.
The summit has been expanded to various cities in Asia and offered more opportunities for AIBD members to get involved in the institute’s activities, he said.
He also called on all members of the AIDB and related parties to actively get involved in designing and conducting the summit, including its content to ensure that the summit will remain relevant and useful to the whole industry and to our society.
In a video message sent to the Summit, Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General emphasized
that Asia is on the frontier of digital technology and new media.
Ban said many civil society organizations in Asia use social media to spread UN values of democracy, human rights, peace and development, adding that they are helping to fight poverty and achieve the millennium development goals.
However, he said, challenges still remain. He called for countries and organizations to work together to bridge the digital divide so that all people can benefit, promote multiple languages in new media, and ensure free access to the Internet and social media tools everywhere.
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Kim Tuyen