Malaysian TV channel to broadcast Vietnamese films

Malaysian TV channel to broadcast Vietnamese films

Astro, an entertainment TV channel owned by a Malaysian group of the same name, will be available in Vietnam through the cable TV network of the HCM City Television Station (HTV).

Chris Sy, Astro Distribution Manager, came to Vietnam last June to survey the Vietnamese market. He recently went to the Hong Kong Film Fair 2008 with representatives of Vietnam BHD to market Vietnamese films at this fair.

What attraction has Astro found in Vietnam?

Vietnam is a potential market, where there is a good future for cable TV services and for big advertising groups. I also see that Vietnamese people love watching TV, especially watching TV with the whole family.

What will Astro bring to Vietnamese audiences?

We will mainly broadcast movies in 2008, with six hours for films a day. We will select films that are suitable for different types of audiences. After half a year broadcasting in Vietnam, we will increase the time for movies and add other entertainment programmes such as game shows, talk shows like Astro channels for Malaysian and Indonesian audiences.

Astro will not broadcast Vietnamese films in 2008?

Not in the first months of operation but we hope to have Vietnamese films on Astro in early 2009. After half a year watching Astro, the number of Vietnamese viewers may be higher and at that time we will buy scripts from Taiwan, China and Thailand and then cooperate with Vietnamese producers to make films for Astro.

We also plan to invite Taiwanese film makers to produce Idol Vietnam films. Vietnam doesnt have diversified forms of entertainment.

Why do you choose Taiwanese film makers?

Because they make Idol-style films very well. Most TV viewers are under 45 and they love Idol films.

Taiwan is very successful with Idol drama films and Vietnamese young audiences previously liked Taiwanese TV series like The Whirlwind of Love and Meteor Garden very much. Do you think that Vietnamese actors are able to create such œfevers at home?

I think it is not difficult to find Vietnamese artists to make an idol film and Vietnam can export idol films as well.

You and Vietnam BHD recently took some Vietnamese films to the Hong Kong Film Fair 2008, including film director Vu Ngoc Dang œI want to cry without reason. Can artists playing in this film like Tang Thanh Ha and Luong Manh Hai play in idol films that you plan?

I cant say anything now. Generally, posters of Vietnamese films are not impressive. I have attended Hong Kong Film Fair several times and I see that advertising is a weakness of Vietnamese films. This is a reason I want to invite Taiwanese producers to make films in Vietnam.

Have you watched any feature films of Vietnam?

Not many. I recently watched œI want to be famous. Vietnamese films need to be renovated generally, from production technology to actors and film stories.