Domestic pay-TV providers today have to compete fiercely with cross-border platforms such as iQIYI and Netflix.

The collection of tax from cross-border services, or services provided by foreign firms via internet to users in Vietnam, is included in the amended Tax Management Tax, expected to take effect in early 2020.

VietNamNet Bridge - Pay-TV companies are now cooperating with each other, rather than slashing fees in an effort to find more subscribers.

VietNamNet Bridge - Television services are reducing service fees  as they face stiff competition among themselves and with OTT (over the top) TV.

VietNamNet Bridge - Internet TV has potential but there are many risks. Producers face copyright infringement and competition from international apps.

VietNamNet Bridge - While tens of television stations are willing to pay billions of dong to measure their viewers’ habits, there are only two service providers.

VietNamNet Bridge - Decree 06 on management, provision and use of radio and television services, which would take effect on March 15, sets up limitations on the number of foreign TV channels on pay-TV.

VietNamNet Bridge - Television stations have lowered subscription fees in a scramble for subscribers.

VietNamNet Bridge - The national television VTV is looking for strategic partners for VTVcab, one of its subsidiaries now undergoing equitization.

VietNamNet Bridge - Local television stations have denounced big players for playing tricks to quell smaller companies.

Analogue TV service is expected to stop within two months in Da Nang  However, it is still unclear if the plan can be fulfilled because of the short supply of set top boxes (STBs) in the market.

VietNamNet Bridge - No one can explain why K+, a major player in the pay-TV market, has incurred such a huge loss and is now on the verge of bankruptcy. Some analysts say there are dubious aspects to the case, and suspect transfer pricing.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The average revenue per user (ARPU) in the Vietnamese pay-TV market is the lowest among ASEAN countries, which could harm the market in the long term.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) may consider setting up the floor prices for pay-TV services in an effort to ensure the healthy competition in the market.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Pay-TV groups have got harassed about the increasingly high percentage of “virtual” and left subscribers.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Unfair competition will give more influence to enterprises in the pay TV market and harm the rights of consumers, said Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Competition Management Department, Nguyen Phuong Nam.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Information and Communication on Wednesday issued a licence to FPT Telecoms to provide a paid TV service in Viet Nam, despite strong opposition from the Viet Nam Pay Television Association.

Vietnam plans to stop analog TV in the 5 biggest cities by 2015. Therefore, digital TV would be broadcasted in the cities together with analog TV from 2014.

The strong infrastructure system and the experience in market development of telecom groups will make them the redoubtable rivals to the existing cable TV service providers, including the national VTV.