Ho Chi Minh City Television

Ho Chi Minh City Television, commonly known as HTV, is a Vietnamese public broadcasting organization based in Ho Chi Minh City. The entity is rooted in the television service established in South Vietnam during the 1960s and is one of the country’s oldest television institutions. Its predecessor began broadcasting in 1965, with regular television transmission associated with Vietnam Television Network from 1966 until the end of the Republic of Vietnam period in April 1975. After the political transition in 1975, the station was taken over and renamed Saigon Liberation Television. Its first post-transition program was broadcast on May 1, 1975, an event generally treated as the beginning of HTV in its modern institutional form. Following the renaming of Saigon as Ho Chi Minh City, the organization adopted the name Ho Chi Minh City Television on July 2, 1976. HTV’s best-known free-to-air services are HTV7 and HTV9. These channels combine local and national news, current affairs, education, culture, sports, entertainment, music, drama, variety programming, and public-service content. HTV has also operated a substantial cable and pay-television business under the HTVC brand, distributing its own thematic services and, subject to rights and carriage arrangements, selected domestic and international channels. Its broadcast footprint has extended beyond southern Vietnam through satellite and digital distribution, while online video and social platforms have broadened access to programs and archived material. The organization is more than a channel operator. Its production activities include the Television Film Studio (TFS), which produces television films, documentaries, and other audiovisual projects; a program production center; advertising and television-service operations; news production; sports programming; and cable distribution. HTV has been associated with numerous Vietnamese television formats and cultural institutions, including the Ho Chi Minh City Television Singing Contest, Chuong Vang Vong Co, Golden Swallow, HTV Awards, the Ho Chi Minh City Television Cup national bicycle race, and a range of music, comedy, reality, talent, educational, and charity programs. These activities have made the broadcaster an important platform for southern Vietnamese popular culture, cải lương and traditional music, televised contests, live events, and locally produced entertainment. The organization has undergone several technology and infrastructure transitions. Channel 7 was introduced in 1986 and initially served as a commercial-oriented service. A major fire in August 1987 severely damaged the main building, although broadcasting facilities and archives survived; HTV resumed full-time color broadcasting the following day. After a new center building opened in the early 2000s, the broadcaster moved toward digital production and transmission. HTV7 and HTV9 began high-definition broadcasting on May 19, 2013, and the organization expanded digital multiplex and online distribution thereafter. The station’s headquarters are located near the intersection of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Dinh Tien Hoang streets in central Ho Chi Minh City, with an additional office in Hanoi. In the institutional reorganization described in the reference material, HTV was merged on October 1, 2025 with broadcasters from Bình Dương and Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu and with Ho Chi Minh City’s Voice of the People radio service. The resulting organization adopted the name Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television Station, while the HTV identity remained associated with the television operation. A further planned consolidation with other city media agencies was described as scheduled for July 2026. Because these later administrative arrangements are subject to implementation, the precise long-term structure of the HTV brand requires continued verification.

The institutional history of HTV begins with television broadcasting in South Vietnam during the 1960s. The predecessor identified in reference material as Vietnam Television Network began broadcasting in 1965, with regular programming associated with the period from February 1966 through April 29, 1975. At that time, television infrastructure in South Vietnam included the television network in Saigon and the separate Armed Forces Vietnam Network, while television in North Vietnam remained at an earlier experimental stage. Following the end of the Republic of Vietnam period, the former Saigon television operation was taken over and renamed Saigon Liberation Television. At 7:00 p.m. on May 1, 1975, journalist Le Minh Hien is described as having ordered the first program of the new service onto the air. This broadcast is regarded as the modern birth of HTV. When Saigon was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1976, the station adopted the name Ho Chi Minh City Television on July 2 of that year. HTV expanded its channel structure in the following decade. Channel 7 launched in 1986 and initially had a commercial orientation, complementing the station’s principal public broadcasting role. On August 23, 1987, a major fire nearly destroyed the station’s main building. The broadcasting department and archives survived, allowing the station to return to full-time color transmission on August 24, only one day after the fire. The organization subsequently developed a broader production and distribution model. Its television-film studio, production center, advertising operations, cable center, and news operations supported programming across news, education, sports, culture, films, documentaries, entertainment, and music. HTVC cable services carried HTV programming and, where licensing and carriage arrangements permitted, domestic and international channels. HTV7 and HTV9 were also distributed by satellite from 2005, allowing reception in parts of Southeast Asia and other Asian markets. A new center building opened in the early 2000s with updated technical facilities. This supported the organization’s transition from largely analog workflows to digital production and transmission. HTV began digital television operations toward the end of 2013, using multiplexes to carry a collection of HTV-owned services. HTV7 and HTV9 entered high-definition broadcasting on May 19, 2013, marking a significant technical milestone for the network. HTV’s cultural role has been expressed through long-running contests, annual specials, sports events, and locally produced formats. Programs and events associated with the organization include the Ho Chi Minh City Television Singing Contest, Chuông vàng vọng cổ, Golden Swallow, HTV Awards, the national bicycle race for the Ho Chi Minh City Television Cup, Nhịp cầu âm nhạc, Vầng trăng cổ nhạc, Ngôi nhà mơ ước, Vượt lên chính mình, and the news program 60 Giây. The broadcaster has also carried or co-produced adaptations and franchises such as Vietnam Idol, Running Man Vietnam, The Brain-derived Siêu trí tuệ Việt Nam, Rap Việt, and 2 Ngày 1 Đêm. The reference material describes another major institutional change on October 1, 2025. Following administrative changes that brought Bình Dương and Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu into the expanded Ho Chi Minh City, their former broadcasters, HTV, and Ho Chi Minh City People’s Voice Radio were merged into a new Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television Station. HTV’s existing headquarters became the main headquarters of the combined agency. The same material describes a planned July 2026 consolidation with other city media bodies, including major newspapers and media agencies. The timing and final organizational consequences of that future consolidation should be checked against current official information.

1. 2025Regional broadcasting merger

   The reference material describes the merger of HTV with broadcasters from Bình Dương and Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu and with Ho Chi Minh City voice radio.

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2. 2013HD broadcasting begins

   HTV7 and HTV9 begin HD broadcasting on May 19, while digital television operations expand later in the year.

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3. 2006Modern center building supports digital transition

   The opening of a new center building provides updated equipment and supports digital operating processes.

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4. 2005Satellite distribution expands

   HTV7 and HTV9 begin satellite distribution reaching parts of Southeast Asia and other Asian markets.

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5. 1987Fire damages the main building

   A major fire nearly destroys the station complex, but broadcasting facilities and archives survive; color broadcasting resumes the next day.

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6. 1986Channel 7 launches

   HTV7 is introduced and initially serves as a commercially oriented channel.

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7. 1976The station adopts the Ho Chi Minh City Television name

   Following the renaming of Saigon, the broadcaster becomes Ho Chi Minh City Television on July 2.

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8. 1975Saigon Liberation Television starts broadcasting

   The station broadcasts its first program under its post-transition name on May 1.

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9. 1966Regular predecessor broadcasts

   Vietnam Television Network is associated with regular broadcasts from February 1966.

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10. 1965Predecessor television service begins

    The predecessor of HTV begins television broadcasting in South Vietnam.

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A major Ho Chi Minh City-based public broadcaster combining regional news, Vietnamese cultural programming, mass entertainment, sports, production services, and multi-platform distribution.

• HTV7Free-to-air television channel1986

  HTV7 is one of HTV’s principal free television channels. Its schedule combines news, current affairs, entertainment, variety, music, drama, contests, lifestyle programming, and public-interest content. The channel has carried major locally produced formats and began HD broadcasting in 2013.

• HTV9Free-to-air television channel

  HTV9 is HTV’s other principal free-to-air service, with a strong emphasis on local news, public affairs, social issues, culture, education, and general programming. It has also served as a home for major seasonal and civic broadcasts and entered HD transmission alongside HTV7.

• HTVCCable and pay television platform

  HTVC is HTV’s cable distribution operation and pay-television brand. Its service portfolio has included Vietnamese and thematic channels covering movies, women’s programming, family content, travel, music, sports, education, and entertainment, as well as selected third-party domestic and international channels subject to carriage rights.

• TFSTelevision production studio

  TFS is HTV’s television film studio, specializing in locally produced television films, documentary projects, and other audiovisual content. It forms part of the organization’s production infrastructure rather than being a standalone consumer channel.

• 60 GiâyNews program2012

  60 Giây is a general news and public-information program covering security, society, domestic and international developments, culture, and related topics. The program was introduced in 2012 with live broadcasts in multiple daily time slots on HTV7 and HTV9.

• Ho Chi Minh City Television CupRoad cycling race

  The Ho Chi Minh City Television Cup is a nationally recognized road cycling event organized by HTV’s sports operation. It is presented as the first major stage road bicycle race organized by a Vietnamese television station and has become a recurring sports property associated with the broadcaster.

• Ngôi nhà mơ ước

  Vietnam

  A social-impact television program focused on building or improving homes for disadvantaged families across Vietnam.

  Outcome. The program linked televised storytelling with housing assistance for selected families.

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• Vượt lên chính mình

  Vietnam

  A reality and social-support format in which low-income families undertake challenges connected with debt repayment and livelihood improvement.

  Outcome. Participants could receive financial assistance intended to help repay debts and establish or restart small businesses.

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• Hát cho ngày mai

  Vietnam

  A music program created to recognize doctors, healthcare workers, volunteers, and others involved in the COVID-19 response.

  Outcome. The program used performances and personal stories to honor pandemic responders.

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• 2025Merger into a regional radio and television stationM&A

  Administrative changes expanded Ho Chi Minh City and prompted the consolidation of public broadcasting bodies from the city and adjoining former provinces.

  What changed. HTV was merged with the former Bình Dương and Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu broadcasters and with Ho Chi Minh City’s voice radio service.

  Aftermath. The combined organization adopted the name Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television Station, with HTV’s headquarters serving as its main headquarters according to the reference material.

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• 2013Transition to HD and digital televisionGeneration change

  HTV was upgrading its production and transmission infrastructure after opening a modern center building.

  What changed. HTV7 and HTV9 began HD broadcasting, while digital multiplex transmission was introduced around the same period.

  Aftermath. The broadcaster expanded its digitally distributed portfolio and improved technical quality for its principal services.

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• 1986Launch of Channel 7Product launch

  HTV expanded its broadcast structure with a new Channel 7 service.

  What changed. The channel was launched with an initially commercial-oriented positioning.

  Aftermath. Channel 7 became part of the organization’s principal television portfolio and is known as HTV7.

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• 2025Ho Chi Minh City broadcasting organizations are consolidated

  The reference material describes a merger involving HTV, broadcasters from Bình Dương and Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu, and Ho Chi Minh City’s voice radio service, creating the Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television Station.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2013HTV7 and HTV9 begin high-definition broadcasting

  The broadcaster began HD transmission for its two principal television channels, supporting its broader transition toward digital production and distribution.

  Product generationOther
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• 1975Saigon Liberation Television begins broadcasting after the 1975 political transition

  The station broadcast its first program under the name Saigon Liberation Television on May 1, 1975, establishing the modern institutional starting point of HTV.

  Other
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1. Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television
2. Official HTV website