On December 24, the Authority of Broadcasting, Television, and Electronic Information (ABEI), under the Ministry of Information and Communications, officially launched the White Paper on Broadcasting, Television, and Electronic Information 2024.

This marks a significant shift in the management and publication approach. Instead of the traditional white paper on information and communication technology that combined data from six major management areas, the Ministry assigned each unit to create specialized white papers for their respective fields.

The White Paper on Broadcasting, Television, and Electronic Information 2024 was meticulously prepared and approved on schedule, ensuring its content met the required standards.

The publication, designed exclusively as an e-book, is available on the websites abei.gov.vn and ebook365.vn. It contains two main sections divided into five categories, spanning a total of 26 pages.

This document provides a comprehensive overview of the broadcasting, television, and electronic information sectors, including legal frameworks, development indicators, performance evaluations, and growth analyses.

Enhanced focus and digital shift

The release of this independent white paper reflects a transformation in governance, highlighting the growing importance of the broadcasting and electronic information sectors in Vietnam’s societal and economic development.

According to data from the white paper, as of the end of 2023, Vietnam had 72 broadcasting and television agencies, operating 78 domestic radio channels, 189 domestic TV channels, and 45 foreign channels available through paid TV services.

Compared to 2022, the number of foreign channels has decreased by 11, attributed to providers restricting their services to on-demand content platforms.

“This shift indicates a transition from traditional broadcasting to on-demand content services,” the report notes.

Revenue from broadcasting and television stations in 2023 totaled approximately 11.86 trillion VND (about 502 million USD), a 21.7% decline from 2022. The decrease is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and rising competition from digital platforms like websites and social media.

Growth in paid television and digital services

Despite challenges, Vietnam’s paid television market has shown stable growth. By the end of 2023, 34 enterprises were providing paid broadcasting services, with a total of 21 million subscribers.

Paid television services generated 9.54 trillion VND (about 403 million USD) in revenue, marking a 5.5% increase compared to 2022. Revenue from internet-based OTT TV services saw a substantial rise, reaching 1.56 trillion VND (about 66 million USD), an increase of 10.3%.

Electronic information and gaming sectors

By late 2023, Vietnam had 2,083 licensed general information websites and 1,011 licensed social networking platforms. However, licensing activities for new general information websites and social networks dropped by nearly 40% compared to 2022, reflecting tightened regulations.

The gaming industry also saw growth, with 267 companies licensed to offer G1 online games and 162 companies registered for G2, G3, and G4 services. Gaming revenue reached 12.55 trillion VND (about 530 million USD), contributing 1.2 trillion VND (about 51 million USD) to the state budget.

Van Anh