According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, a number of foreign television channels and platforms have recently withdrawn from Vietnam due to changes in their business models or non-compliance with new regulations. One notable exit was Amazon’s Prime Video OTT television platform, which ended its seven-year presence in the country in early November. Additionally, several channels including National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Baby TV, Mezzo Live, Paramount Network, and Baby First have ceased broadcasting in certain markets, including Vietnam. In total, 14 foreign TV channels have stopped broadcasting in Vietnam this year.
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Nguyen Thanh Lam, explained that the main reason for these withdrawals is the strategic shift by the channels’ owners. Many of the channels that have ceased broadcasting are owned by U.S. company Disney, which has prioritized the launch of its Disney+ platform, similar to Netflix. Lam stated that Disney believes the future lies in on-demand video services rather than traditional television, leading them to focus on their application rather than traditional channels. However, Disney+ has not yet been introduced in Vietnam.
Even cross-border OTT platforms like Netflix, Apple, Tencent, Iqiyi, and Hunan face challenges in Vietnam. Le Quang Tu Do, director of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, mentioned that these platforms need to determine whether they are providing television or movie services in Vietnam. If they offer films, they must comply with the Cinema Law and remove television content. If they operate as television providers, they must complete the required licensing procedures as per government regulations issued earlier this year.
Regarding Amazon’s Prime Video, the company has decided that the Vietnamese market is still relatively small and that the business model in Vietnam is not suitable, leading to its withdrawal. On the other hand, Netflix has submitted an application to establish a business presence in Vietnam, which is currently under consideration.
Some foreign players had faced issues in Vietnam related to tax evasion and broadcasting prohibited content. Do, from the Ministry of Information and Communications, mentioned that after the government implemented new regulations to ensure equality between foreign and local services, some foreign businesses chose to cease their operations in Vietnam.
According to the ministry’s report, as of October, the number of pay TV subscribers in Vietnam reached 18.7 million, reflecting a 12.3% increase compared to the previous year. Pay TV revenues amounted to VND7.5 trillion (US$312.5 million) in the first nine months of this year, showing a 1.4% growth.