HCM CITY - In a competition with leading television stations like Viet Nam Television (VTV) and HCM City Television (HTV), stations in the provinces are trying to lure local viewers to their programmes.
Vinh Long Province's TV station, for example, has worked with Phuoc Sang Studios, Vietcomfilm and Thien Nam An, three private film companies in HCM City, to produce TV series and game shows.
The station has increased its broadcast time for Vietnamese films from two hours per day to more than seven hours per day.
It has broadcast Anh Em Nha Bac Si (Doctor Brothers) and Me Chong Nang Dau (Mother and Daughters-in-Law), both long-running TV series produced by the station and its partners, Vietcomfilm and Thien Nam An.
Phuoc Sang Studios, one of the country's leading private film companies, has decided to release its 30-part TV series, Lau Dai Tinh Ai (Love Castle), on Vinh Long Television channel this year.
The show will be broadcast on channels of TV stations in Binh Duong, Tien Giang, Kien Giang and Lam Dong provinces.
"We have worked with Vinh Long Television to produce or exchange documentary films and TV series that will be broadcast on the station's channels," Phuoc Sang, the company's director, said.
"We see a change here to develop our business," he said.
Vinh Long Television plans to make a large investment to build its studio that serves film projects, according to the station's representative.
The station also has a TV mobile unit to serve remote areas.
"Our staff, including young directors and producers, has also diversified its programmes to cover culture and society, education, health, entertainment and sports to help viewers better understand the country and the world," he said.
He added that his station was conducting research to identify ways to co-operate with private entertainment companies to produce more quality programmes.
Like Vinh Long Station, TV stations in provinces have invested several billion dong to build and upgrade their technology at their studios, in an aim to improve programmes and signal transmissions.
Binh Duong Television has worked with its partners to produce Nguoi Dep Binh Duong (Binh Duong's Miss Beauty), a 30-part TV series, featuring the province's history and people.
The film will be aired on BTV1 channel next month, hoping to attract local residents and many audiences in HCM City and other provinces such as Can Tho, Vinh Long and Dong Thap.
"Our film producers and TV stations should work together to increase the number of Vietnamese films aired to at least 30 per cent of all TV film screenings," said Phan To Hong Hai, exhibition division director of Thien Ngan (Galaxy) Studios, the country's first film company.
Thien Ngan has produced entertainment programmes to release on TV channels in Ha Noi, HCM City and other provinces. -VNS
