VTV6
A Vietnam Television channel that operated as a youth network from 2007 to 2022 and was relaunched as a national sports channel in 2026.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
VTV6 is a television channel operated within Vietnam Television (VTV), Vietnam's national television network. Its identity has changed substantially over time. The original service launched on 29 April 2007 as Vietnam's first television channel dedicated specifically to teenagers and young people. During its first phase, it was managed by VTV's youth-oriented organizational units and carried entertainment, factual, lifestyle, educational, social, and youth-participation programming. The channel initially had limited distribution, but its reach expanded through southern broadcasting in 2009 and nationwide distribution in 2010. Its daily schedule also expanded from approximately 12 hours to 18 hours in 2010 and ultimately to round-the-clock broadcasting in 2013. The youth-channel period was marked by several editorial and brand adjustments. In 2012, VTV6 broadened its target audience toward viewers aged approximately 20 to 29, refreshed its visual identity, and introduced additional formats, including locally broadcast versions of international television concepts and revived programming associated with children's television. The service also developed a stronger role in broadcasting national events and, from 2015, became an important outlet for sports programming produced or acquired by VTV. Sports coverage increasingly included Vietnamese national-team events and major competitions for which VTV held rights, giving VTV6 a dual identity as both a youth network and a prominent sports outlet. The channel's youth remit was narrowed in 2018 when children's programming was transferred to VTV7 following the separation of the Children's Board from the Youth Department. VTV6 then positioned itself toward the so-called digital generation, especially people born between 1985 and 2000. During the COVID-19 prevention period in 2020, its broadcast day was temporarily reduced to 19 hours before returning to a 24-hour schedule. The original VTV6 ceased broadcasting on 10 October 2022 as part of a restructuring of Vietnam Television under Decree No. 60/2022/ND-CP. Its frequency and role were replaced by a national channel aimed at audiences in the Mekong Delta, identified in the reference material as VTV Can Tho and subsequently associated with VTV10. VTV6 was later revived with a different editorial mission. In 2026, Vietnam Television announced the return of the VTV6 name as a full-time national sports channel. The relaunched service was developed by VTV's Sports Television Center in cooperation with Vietnam's sports administration, the Vietnam Olympic Committee, and more than 30 sports federations and associations. Its stated purpose is to promote mass, school, and professional sports; present national teams, athletes, and coaches; explain sports policies and rules; and support public health and physical education. The new channel was announced during the sports program Giờ vàng thể thao on 29 May 2026, received a production and launch license from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on 2 June 2026, and officially went on air at 09:40 on 8 June 2026. Its schedule is designed to run 24 hours a day and includes sports news, event coverage, documentaries, training guidance, sports medicine, nutrition and lifestyle advice, rules education, game shows, and other sports-themed programs.
History
VTV6 was proposed in Vietnam Television's 2006–2010 development planning as a specialized service. Although the initial concept reportedly contemplated a stronger sports orientation, the channel ultimately launched as a youth service. A live introductory event, VTV6 – A New Friend, was shown on VTV3 on the evening of 28 April 2007, and VTV6 began regular broadcasting the following day. This made it the first Vietnamese television channel specifically dedicated to teenagers. The early service had limited distribution. It was initially tested through a cable outlet and then carried on analog terrestrial transmission. Southern distribution began on 29 April 2009, followed by nationwide broadcasting on 7 September 2010. On 1 November 2010, VTV6 increased its daily schedule from 12 hours to 18 hours. The channel used its second anniversary in 2009 to promote the slogan “Dreams don't wait” through a nationwide slogan-writing contest. VTV6 gradually expanded beyond youth entertainment. On 27 December 2010, a live broadcast of the Eighth National Emulation Congress produced by VTV's youth and children's organizational unit and aired on VTV1 demonstrated that the unit was also contributing to coverage of major political and historical events. From 1 May 2012, the channel changed its programming and presentation strategy to address a broader young-adult audience, particularly viewers aged 20 to 29. Its old spiral-style number-six mark was replaced by a blue geometric design consistent with other VTV channel identities. The channel also added new formats, including original-language versions of international television concepts such as American Idol and MasterChef, and revived the Little Flowers programming tradition in age-specific forms. On 1 January 2013, VTV6 moved to a 24-hour schedule. On 7 September of the same year, it became VTV's second HD channel and its first service to broadcast in Full HD. Sports became increasingly central after 2015, when much of the sports output previously shown on VTV3 was moved to VTV6. The channel became a frequent home for live rights-based coverage, particularly events involving Vietnamese national teams and delegations. Organizational and editorial changes followed in 2018. The Children's Board was separated from the Youth Department, and children's programming was transferred to VTV7. VTV6 adopted a “Digital Generation 2018” direction aimed at people born approximately between 1985 and 2000. During COVID-19 prevention measures, the schedule was temporarily reduced to 19 hours per day between 19 March and 30 April 2020, returning to 24 hours on 1 May. The first VTV6 era ended during a broader restructuring of Vietnam Television. Decree No. 60/2022/ND-CP, signed on 8 September 2022, revised VTV's functions, powers, and organizational structure and provided for the dissolution of the Youth Department that managed VTV6. The original channel ceased transmission on 10 October 2022 and was replaced by a national service intended for the Mekong Delta, identified in the reference material as VTV Can Tho and later associated with VTV10. The VTV6 name returned in 2026 with a new purpose. During Giờ vàng thể thao on 29 May, VTV announced a relaunch as a national sports channel. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism granted the relevant license on 2 June. The new service was developed by VTV's Sports Television Center in cooperation with the Vietnam Department of Physical Education and Sports, the Vietnam Olympic Committee, and more than 30 sports federations and associations. The cooperation framework focused on promoting Vietnamese teams, athletes, and coaches and coordinating communication about national sports policy. The relaunch ceremony took place in Hanoi on 8 June, and the channel went live at 09:40. The new VTV6 is intended to broadcast 24 hours a day, combining sports news and live events with documentaries, training instruction, competition-rule explainers, sports medicine, nutrition, lifestyle, physical education, health advice, games, and foreign sports programming.
- 2026
VTV6 returns as a sports channel
[1]The VTV6 name is relaunched for a 24-hour national sports service, which begins broadcasting on 8 June.
- 2022
End of the original service
[1]The youth-era channel stops broadcasting on 10 October following VTV's organizational restructuring.
- 2018
Digital-generation repositioning
[1]VTV6 adopts a digital-generation orientation while children's output moves to VTV7.
- 2015
Sports coverage becomes a major role
[1]Sports programming from VTV3 is increasingly transferred to VTV6.
- 2013
24-hour and Full HD broadcasting
[1]VTV6 adopts a 24-hour schedule and becomes VTV's first Full HD channel.
- 2012
Brand and audience repositioning
[1]VTV6 updates its logo and presentation and focuses more strongly on young adults aged 20 to 29.
- 2010
Nationwide broadcasting and longer schedule
[1]The channel becomes available nationwide and expands its daily broadcast time to 18 hours.
- 2009
Southern distribution begins
[1]VTV6 expands its terrestrial availability to southern Vietnam.
- 2007
VTV6 launches as a youth channel
[1]After an introductory broadcast on 28 April, VTV6 begins regular transmission on 29 April as Vietnam's first television channel dedicated to teenagers.
Products and positioning
A national VTV television channel focused first on young audiences and later reoriented toward comprehensive sports broadcasting, sports education, and public health.
Television channel · 2007
Youth channel service
The original VTV6 service ran from 2007 to 2022 and targeted teenagers and young adults. Its programming combined entertainment, factual features, lifestyle content, social issues, youth participation, event coverage, and selected children's programming before the latter moved to VTV7.
Sports television · 2026
Sports channel service
The relaunched VTV6 is a national sports channel intended to operate 24 hours a day. Its stated content scope includes sports news, live events, documentaries, training programs, competition-rule education, sports medicine, nutrition and lifestyle guidance, physical education, health advice, sports-themed entertainment, and foreign sports programs.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018The Digital Generation 2018
Vietnam
VTV6 introduced a new editorial direction aimed at the digital generation, described in the reference material as people born between 1985 and 2000.
Outcome. The repositioning accompanied the transfer of children's programming to VTV7 and a stronger focus on young adults.
- 2009Dreams don't wait
Vietnam
For its second anniversary, VTV6 promoted the slogan “Dreams don't wait” through a nationwide slogan-writing contest.
Outcome. The campaign established an anniversary slogan and encouraged audience participation.
Brand decisions
2026
Relaunch VTV6 as a national sports channelProduct launchBackground
VTV's Sports Television Center developed a dedicated sports service in cooperation with Vietnam's sports administration, the Olympic Committee, and sports federations.
Action taken
VTV6 was relaunched on 8 June as a 24-hour channel covering sports news, live events, training, medicine, health, and sports education.
Aftermath
The VTV6 name returned with a sports identity rather than its former youth-channel positioning.
2022
End the original VTV6 serviceOtherBackground
Vietnam Television underwent an organizational restructuring under Decree No. 60/2022/ND-CP, including dissolution of the Youth Department.
Action taken
The original VTV6 stopped broadcasting on 10 October and was replaced by a channel aimed at Mekong Delta audiences.
Aftermath
The VTV6 youth channel disappeared for almost three years before the name was revived for a different sports-oriented service.
2018
Separate children's programming from VTV6StrategyBackground
VTV reorganized the units responsible for youth and children's programming.
Action taken
The Children's Board was separated from the Youth Department and children's programs were transferred to VTV7.
Aftermath
VTV6 concentrated more heavily on young adults and the digital-generation positioning.
2015
Make VTV6 a principal sports outletStrategyBackground
VTV6 already had a youth audience and was increasingly carrying sports-related programming.
Action taken
Many sports programs associated with VTV3 were moved to VTV6, including coverage of events for which VTV held rights.
Aftermath
Sports became one of the channel's defining editorial functions during the remainder of its first era.
2013
Adopt 24-hour broadcastingStrategyBackground
VTV6 had progressively expanded its daily schedule since launch.
Action taken
The channel began broadcasting continuously from 1 January.
Aftermath
VTV6 became the sixth VTV channel to operate on a 24-hour basis.
2012
Broaden the target audience and refresh the channel identityStrategyBackground
The youth channel sought to address a wider young-adult audience rather than concentrating solely on teenagers.
Action taken
VTV6 changed its presentation style, replaced its visual mark, and introduced additional entertainment and factual formats.
Aftermath
The channel increasingly emphasized viewers aged 20 to 29 while retaining a youth-oriented identity.
Sources2 sources
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