~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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[Year 2002]

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.