Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television Station (Vietnamese: Đài Phát thanh và Truyền hình Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh; abbreviation: HTV) is a media agency under the Ho Chi Minh City Press and Radio, Television Agency. Its predecessor was Vietnam Television of the Republic of Vietnam, first broadcasting in 1965 and becoming the first television station in Vietnam. After April 30, 1975, the station was taken over and renamed Saigon Liberation Television, broadcasting its first program on May 1, 1975 – marking the official birth of HTV.
From July 2, 1976, the station was named Ho Chi Minh City Television, and on October 1, 2025, after merge with two broadcaster of Bình Dương (BTV) and Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu (BRT), and the Voice of Ho Chi Minh City (VOH Radio), HTV adopted its current name. From July 2026, the station will be merged with other media agencies (like Tuổi Trẻ and Sài Gòn Giải Phóng) of Ho Chi Minh City to form Ho Chi Minh City Press and Radio, Television Agency (Vietnamese: Cơ quan Báo và Phát thanh, Truyền hình Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh).
History
The old name of HCMC Television was Saigon Liberation Television that began broadcasting on May 1, 1975. The station took over from Vietnam Television Network, founded in 1965, which broadcast from February 2, 1966, to April 29, 1975, a day before the Fall of Saigon. At the time, there were two different TV stations immediately adjacent in downtown Saigon: the English-language Armed Forces Vietnam Network (AFVN) and Vietnam Television Network. While South Vietnam had five TV stations, television in the North Vietnam was still in the testing period.
On April 30, 1975, Saigon Television went off the air and after a night in Saigon without television, at exactly 7:00 p.m. on May 1, 1975, Le Minh Hien, a journalist from Hanoi, ordered Saigon Liberation Television to broadcast its first television program.
After Saigon renamed to Ho Chi Minh City in 1976, Saigon Liberation Television adopted its current name. Channel 7 launched in 1986 and first served as a commercial channel. On August 23, 1987, a large fire nearly destroyed the entire building, except for the broadcasting department and the archives. Nonetheless, a day later, on August 24, HTV switched to full-time color broadcast.
Following the opening of the center building in early 2006 with modern equipment and technology, HTV began its switch to digital operations.
The network started broadcasting in HD on May 19, 2013, for HTV7 and HTV9.
On October 1, 2025, as a part of nationwide administrative reforms, the Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces were merged into Ho Chi Minh City. The former provincial radio and television stations (BTV, BRT), along with Ho Chi Minh City Television and Ho Chi Minh City People's Voice Radio (VOH), merged to form the Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television Station. The site of HTV's headquarters became the main headquarters for new agency.
Operations
The station's main headquarters are located at the corner of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Dinh Tien Hoang Street. It also has an office in Ha Noi. HTV has two main analog channels - HTV7 and HTV9. The station started digital television at the end of 2013 using two to three multiplexes that transmit a total of 20 HTV-owned channels.
HTV7 and HTV9 also began broadcasting on the satellite in 2005, which covers the Southeast Asian countries and some other Asian countries. HTV has 20 channels (8 free channel is HTV7, HTV9, HTV1, HTV2 - Vie Channel, HTV3, HTV4, HTV5 - Bchannel, HTV Sports; 6 pay channel is HTVC Vietnamese, HTVC Movie, HTVC Women, HTVC Family, HTVC+, HTVC Travel & Life, and 5 radio channel is AM 610 KHz, FM 99.9 MHz, FM 95.6 MHz, FM 87.7 MHz, FM 92-92.5 MHz)
Channel
Launch date
Information
HTV9
7 February 1966
The channel was launched as THVN9 on February 7th, 1966, until April 29th, 1975, as the Fall of Saigon happen the next day, on 1 May 1975, the station was reconstituted as Saigon Liberation Television Station and rename to HTV9.
The channel launched its HDTV version along with HTV7 on May 19, 2013.
The second channel of HTV, originally aired as an advertising and public service channel. Currently it airs many game shows including local franchises of Disney's Endemol Shine Group games Deal or No Deal,So You Think You Can Dance, Odd One In and others. An HDTV version of the channel was launched on May 19, 2013.
HTV1
1 October 2003
The channel was managed by VTL Media through a five-year lease term from 2007 to 2012. Afterwards, HCMC Television managed the channel using the public information format.
The channel was originally a sports channel until 2010 under a license.
It broadcasts 24/7. It is jointly operated by Anh Binh Minh Media LLC, later transferred to DIDTV, belong DatVietVAC and HCMC Television. DIDTV also manage other channels like Giai Tri TV, D-Dramas and Lotte Datviet Home Shopping.
On September 19, 2018, HTV2 changed into a new name - Vie Channel.
HTV3
1 October 2003
The channel was managed by TVM Corporation from June 2008 to August 2010 and again from June 2014.
On July 1st, 2017, HTV partner with Purpose Media, to create HTV3 Dream TV.
At first it was a kids-only channel; in 2007 it was planned to become an entertainment channel for kids and families. Since June 2008, HTV3 has served aired programmes for children, like Ben 10, Doraemon, Case Closed, etc.
On November 1, 2022, HTV3 was returned to the company for management.
HTV4
1 October 2003
It was launched at the same period as HTV1, HTV2, HTV3, HTV7 and HTV9 under the name of HTV4. In the early years, HTV4 rebroadcast science programs that were aired on HTV7 and HTV9.
Since early 2006, HTV4 began to purchase broadcast rights for programming from the BBC, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, etc. HTV4 also produce programmes on Vietnamese education and science. HTV4 has its own website: htv4.vn.
On August 10, 2018, HTV4 changed into a new name - HTV Key.
On February 28th, 2026, HTV Key changed back to HTV4 after 7-8 years
HTV5 - Bchannel
June 1, 2005
is a television channel focusing on Eastern culture, celebrating national culture and moral values, and a lifestyle based on Buddhist philosophy, . It belongs to Ho Chi Minh City Radio - Television Station in collaboration with VTVcab and the Vietnam Buddhist Association. Previously, HTV5 was called BTV9 and was managed by Binh Duong Radio and Television Station.
HTV Thể Thao (HTV Sport)
2003
Launched in 2013 as HTVC Sport.
HTVC Thuần VIệt (HTVC Vietnamese)
1 July 2003
It broadcasts Vietnamese films.
HTVC Phim (HTVC Movie)
2005
It broadcasts TV movies and cinema films from around the world.
HTVC Gia Đình (HTVC Family)
June 28, 2007
Broadcast as a channel for families.
HTVC Phụ nữ (HTVC Women)
October 20, 2007
Broadcast as a channel for women.
HTVC Du lịch và Cuộc sống (Travel and Living)
November 2007
Broadcast as an information channel for travel and lifestyle.
HTVC Plus
2006
It was managed by Yan Group. also in test October 16, 2014 officially on January 9, 2015, and Channel B stop broadcast in 2017.
HTVC FBNC
February 2009
It is managed by IDG Vietnam Invest Fund and The Sang Corporation. Channel ceased on 1 January 2022.
Services
HTV has:
TFS, a TV studio, specializing in producing movies and documentary films.
TV Service Center, a venue to contact the services and advertisements.
Programme Production Centre, a production company, specialize in producing television programs.
Ho Chi Minh City Television Cable Center brings quality programming to the audience in Vietnam and worldwide. The main programs include science, education, sports, movies, entertainment, etc.
HTV's cable system has various channels where HTV has rights to rebroadcast such as:
Cuộc đua xe đạp toàn quốc tranh Cúp truyền hình Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Chinh phục đỉnh Everest
Cây vợt vàng HTV Challenger
Thử thách đua xe địa hình HTV
Featured programs
Prizes, tournaments, contests
Miss Television Contest 1967: THVN9 organizes the first contest of Vietnam & Southeast Asia.
National Bicycle Race for Ho Chi Minh City Television Cup: The first stage road bicycle race by a television station in Vietnam; organized by the station's Sports Department.
Ho Chi Minh City Television Singing Contest: The first and annually held singing contest on Vietnamese television.
Giai điệu trái tim: New song composition contest, with the participation of many musicians of that time.
Chuông vàng vọng cổ: The first cải lương competition in the country, contributing to the development of cải lương.
HTV Award
Tiếng hát măng non truyền hình: the kids version of Tiếng hát truyền hình.
Tiếng ca học đường
Golden Swallow
HTV Challenge Cup
Annual special program
Tao Quan: A comedy program that aired on the last night of the lunar year and ended at the time of New Year's Eve, with the main character being Tao Quan - who synthesizes the main events. occurred during the year. "Tao Quan" first premiered in Vietnam on HTV9 on New Year's Eve and became the most anticipated program on New Year's Eve in the two decades.
Other
Nhịp cầu âm nhạc: The first live on-demand music program in Vietnam. The program has a phone number with 6 lines to receive direct requests from the audience, broadcast once a month on channel HTV7.
Vầng trăng cổ nhạc: Ancient song program & cai luong excerpts airing monthly.
Trong nhà ngoài phố
Ngân mãi chuông vàng
Vượt lên chính mình: A game show with low-income families winning money to pay off their debts and start businesses.
Chinh phục đỉnh Everest: Athletes had to conquer four peaks: Fansipan, Kinabalu, Kilimanjaro, Island Peak before the challenge. finally the "roof of the world" - peak Everest. On May 22, 2008, the first 3 climbers of Vietnam, Bui Van Ngoi, Phan Thanh Nhien and Nguyen Mau Linh entered the list of conquerors. reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Ngôi nhà mơ ước: The program to build houses for disadvantaged families across the country.
Thay lời muốn nói.
Thử thách cùng bước nhảy: Dance competition program, adapted from So You Think You Can Dance, co-produced by HTV and Đông Tây Promotion.
60 giây: General news program, security and order, society, domestic & international culture begin on January 1st, 2012, broadcast live in 3-time frames 06:30–07:00, 12:00–12:30 and 18:30–19:00 every day on HTV7 and HTV9, conducted by HTV News Center, Dien Quan & ADT Group Holdings.
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