HCMC-based multimedia firm IMC Group announced to take over the management of MTV Vietnam on February 3, three years after the channel was launched for youth in the country.

MTV Vietnam’s VJ Dustin Nguyen (L) interviews a person dressing up like actress Angelina Jolie in the movie Malefi - cent at the MTV Movie Party in HCMC on Monday.

MTV, a division of U.S.-based Viacom International Media Networks under the management of Viacom Group, made debut in Vietnam in 1997 through some TV and radio shows but officially broadcast its first programs on a local channel on July 1, 2011.

From this year onwards, MTV Vietnam will be a member of IMC Group which was established in 2008. The group manages multiple TV programs, including TodayTV, SNTV, RailTV and YouTV and three magazines like Me yeu Be (moms love their children), The gioi Dien anh (cinema world), Tap chi Lam dep (beauty).

The group expects that 100% cable TV users are able to watch MTV Vietnam. Furthermore, MTV Vietnam will be made available on print and digital platforms to gain access to more audiences who don’t have a habit of watching TV. There will be more made-by-MTV programs for local viewers and more activities to promote local artists to the world.

Lam Chi Thien, CEO of IMC Group, said at the event on Monday that MTV Vietnam would launch some prominent programs this year, including MTV WOW, MTV Introducing, VJ Camp and MTV Unplugged.

MTV is now in partnership with some subscription-based television services like VTV Cab, HTVC, K+, VTC, MyTV and HCATV with around four million households in the country.