Gov't restricts viewing of satellite television programs
HANOI - The Government has reiterated the determination to limit
the number of agencies and individuals allowed to view satellite
programs aired by television stations abroad.
Decision 79/2002/QD-TTg, signed on June 18, 2002 by Prime Minister
Phan Van Khai, specifies that only leaders of the Party, the
Government, centrally-run agencies and mass organizations and deputy
ministers can use TVRO equipment to view satellite television
programs.
This regulation also covers deputy Party chiefs, vice chairpersons of
the People's committees and councils at the city or provincial level.
Agencies under the ministries of Public Security, Defense and Foreign
Affairs, and other Party and Government agencies can also use TVRO
equipment to watch satellite programs for their permissible purposes.
Viewing of satellite TV programs is also allowed at press agencies
which publish daily newspapers, newspapers at the central level, in
Hanoi and HCMC covering the country's external relations, and
publications managed by centrally-governed mass organizations.
Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, and radio and stations at the
regional and local levels are also eligible to watch foreign satellite
TV programs.
Others allowed to use TVRO equipment include foreign agencies and
organizations, resident offices of foreign news agencies and
newspapers, foreign-invested companies, offices of organizations
established by Vietnam and foreign countries in the economic,
cultural, tourist and scientific fields under the joint venture form,
and hotels of one-star rating or above where there are international
tourists.
The decision also requires TVRO equipment users to view the programs
they register, and TVRO equipment importers, traders, installers and
repairers to ask for permission from the Trade Ministry.
Television stations abroad must seek approval of the Ministry of
Culture and Information if they want to sell their TVRO equipment
through their distributors in Vietnam. The distributors are also
required to obtain written approval from the ministry.
Television agencies are also told to directly air the sport and
scientific programs under the pay-per-view term to their allowed
subscribers in line with the contracts signed between them.
By Thai Thanh - The Saigon Times Daily - June 24, 2002.
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