Vietnam Television (1966–75)
Country | South Vietnam |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Domestic |
Headquarters | 9 Hồng Thập tự Street, Saigon |
Ownership | |
Owner | Radio-Television Public Broadcasting Centre Government of the Republic of Vietnam |
History | |
Launched | 7 February 1966 |
Closed | 29 April 1975 |
Replaced by | HTV (May 1, 1975) |
Availability | |
Terrestrial | |
Over the air analog | Channel 9 |
Vietnam Television (Vietnamese: Đài Truyền hình Việt Nam, abbreviated THVN[1]), also known as Saigon Television (Đài Truyền hình Sài Gòn) or Channel 9 (Đài số 9), was one of two national television broadcasters in South Vietnam from February 7, 1966, until just before the Fall of Saigon on April 29, 1975. It was the first television broadcaster in Vietnam.[2] It was operated by the Vietnamese Bureau of Television (Nha Vô tuyến Truyền hình Việt Nam), part of the General Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema (Tổng cuộc Truyền thanh, Truyền hình và Điện ảnh) in the Ministry of Propaganda.[3] Vietnam Television broadcast from the capital Saigon on channel 9 (4.5 MHz) in FCC-standard black and white.[2][4] The other national broadcaster was the English-language Armed Forces Vietnam Network or NWB-TV on channel 11.[5] Both channels used an airborne transmission relay system from airplanes flying at high altitudes, called Stratovision, as part of Operation Blue Eagle.
Vietnam Television's final programming aired the evening of April 29, 1975. The next day, the station was reconstituted as Saigon Liberation Television (Đài truyền hình Sài Gòn Giải phóng, SGTV) with a live broadcast of South Vietnamese President Dương Văn Minh's surrender. SGTV became Ho Chi Minh City Television on May 1, 1975.
Color filming units of THVN9 broadcasting a National Armed Forces Day parade, Saigon, June 16, 1971
1974 English-language Voice of Vietnam (Radio Vietnam) foreign service broadcast from Saigon
History[]
Vietnam Television Station (THVN) was established in 1965; its first broadcast was on February 7, 1966 at 6:58 pm, and the last one was at 11:58 pm on April 29, 1975. The first broadcast recorded images of Prime Minister Nguyễn Cao Kỳ and US ambassador Cabot Lodge.[6] Initially lasting for an hour,[7] the duration was later increased to two hours. On October 25, 1966, THVN's first above-ground establishment was finished.[8]
THVN was established at the same time as AFRTS (Armed Forces Radio Television Service), which was renamed as AFVN (Armed Forces Vietnam Network) in 1967.[6] THVN broadcast on band 9, while AFVN on frequency band 11.[9] AFVN broadcast the landing of Neil Armstrong on the Moon in 1969 for audiences in South Vietnam.[10]
Recording was first performed at the National Cinema Center No. 9 on Thi Sach Street.[11] In 1967, THVN was split into 2 separate departments - Cinema and Television.[12] THVN's headquarter was moved to 9 Hồng Thập tự Street (now Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street) - which later became the headquarter of the current Ho Chi Minh City Television.[13]
Final days[]
Historical events in early 1975 were also broadcast by Saigon Television. The chaotic and bloody evacuation from the Central Highlands to Tuy Hoa along Highway 7, dubbed as the "Convoy of Tears" was broadcast on television - causing more terror for the people in the South.[14] This was followed by a live broadcast of the resignation speech of President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu on the evening of April 21, 1975.
On April 30, the TV crew of THVN9 went to the Independence Palace to broadcast for President Dương Văn Minh, but did not because around 7 am, Minh told everyone to leave.[3] A few hours later, the regime of the Republic of Vietnam ended.
The last broadcast of THVN9 was from 18:45 to 22:45 on April 29, 1975, the day before the Fall of Saigon.
After the Fall of Saigon, THVN9 was handed over to the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam. The first broadcast (on channel HTV9) was about the declaration of surrender by Dương Văn Minh. On July 2, 1976, THVN was renamed as Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV).
See also[]
- Media in South Vietnam
- Vietnam Television
- Ho Chi Minh City Television
- Radio Vietnam
References[]
- ^ Vietnam Cultural Profile: Television
- ^ a b Tấn Đức (2008-12-15). "Buổi phát sóng truyền hình đầu tiên ở Việt Nam" [The first television broadcast in Vietnam]. E-info (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
- ^ a b THVN9
- ^ Hà Đình Nguyên (2005-04-28). "'Đây là Đài Truyền hình Sài Gòn giải phóng...'". Thanh Niên (in Vietnamese). Ho Chi Minh City: Vietnam United Youth League. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ Williams, Billy. "Television in Vietnam". Broadcasting in Vietnam During the War. Archived from the original on 2010-03-28.
- ^ a b AFRS, AFRTS, AFVN Vietnam
- ^ Smith, Harvey et al. Area Handbook for South Vietnam. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1967. tr 293
- ^ History of Project Jenny
- ^ Television in Vietnam.
- ^ Vietnamese youth with bleak future now holds key to a brighter energy future with NASA invention.
- ^ Nữ nghệ sĩ Phương Liên 50 năm sân khấu
- ^ VƯƠNG HỒNG ANH - Những ngày với Du Tử Lê ở KBC 3168, Sài Gòn.
- ^ Phát thanh viền đầu tiên buổi phát hình 1/5/1975.
- ^ America in Vietnam
- Television companies of Vietnam
- Culture of Saigon
- Television channels and stations established in 1966
- Television channels and stations disestablished in 1975
- Defunct mass media in Vietnam
- Vietnam War stubs