Vietnam Television (Vietnamese: Đài Truyền-hình Việtnam, abbreviated THVN), sometimes also unofficially known as the National Television (Đài Truyền-hình Quốc-gia), Saigon Television (Đài Truyền-hình Sàigòn) or Channel 9 (Đài số 9, THVN9), was the national television broadcaster of 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.
THVN9 was operated by the Vietnamese Bureau of Television (Nha Vô-tuyến Truyền-hình Việtnam), part of the General Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema (Tổng-cuộc Truyền-thanh Truyền-hình và Điện-ảnh) in the Ministry of Propaganda. Vietnam Television broadcast from the capital Saigon on channel 9 (4.5MHz) in FCC-standard black and white. However, from 1972, all important events were broadcast in color as standard.
The other national broadcaster in South Vietnam was the English-language Armed Forces Vietnam Network (AFVN) or NWB-TV on channel 11. However, it was operated by the US military. Both channels used an airborne transmission relay system from airplanes flying at the high altitudes, called Stratovision, as part of Operation Blue Eagle. Besides Vietnam Television, South Vietnam also had four local television stations.
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 South Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Cao Kỳ and US ambassador to South Vietnam Cabot Lodge. Initially lasting for an hour, the duration was later increased to two hours. On October 25, 1966, THVN's first above-ground establishment was finished.
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. THVN broadcast on band 9, while AFVN on frequency band 11. AFVN broadcast the landing of Neil Armstrong on the Moon in 1969 for audiences in South Vietnam. By 1970, both THVN and AFVN had a network of five stations each.
Recording was first performed at the National Cinema Center No. 9 on Thi Sach Street. In 1967, THVN was split into 2 separate departments - Cinema and Television. THVN's headquarter was moved to 9 Hồng Thập Tự Avenue (now Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street) - which later became the headquarter of the current Ho Chi Minh City Television.
American television started in Vietnam on January 22, 1966 with tests on two channels. On February seventh, regular transmissions commenced with American programming on channel 11 and Vietnamese broadcasts on channel 9. No permanent studio had been built, so three C-121 Super Constellation aircraft, known as Blue Eagles, were specially outfitted with film projectors and transmitters. A fourth Blue Eagle was radio only. It was used to relay audio of the 1965 World Series. Circling high over South Vietnam and transmitting U.S. TV programs on Channel 11, the Blue Eagles provided extended coverage to Americans who were arriving in increasing numbers. Steve Robbins was an organizer of Project Jenny which led to the Blue Eagle flights. He has a wealth of photos and information on his web site. Later in 1966, a permanent TV station was completed at 9 Hong Thap Tu in Saigon. A huge antenna provided more reliable coverage. Hours were expanded and daily newscasts began. Concurrently, several detachments added television. A complete station was mounted in a van the size of a large semi trailer. The mountaintop locations of some detachments provided excellent coverage. But unlike radio, AFVN television programming could not be fed directly from the Saigon key station to detachments. Wideband technology still was primitive in the late '60s. Programs on videotape and film were rotated among detachments using a weekly film flight and postal mail. In Saigon, sign-on was around noon daily while most detachments started transmissions around 4PM on weekdays and at noon on Saturday and Sunday. Troops watched favorite stateside series such as Bonanza, Mission Impossible, Gunsmoke, Laugh-In and Hawaii Five-O. Tape-delayed NFL football games and the ever-popular Roller Derby were other highlights. A soldier could even watch the series Combat! on AFVN-TV. When Archie Bunker and All in the Family broke new ground, Archie's antics were seen weekly on AFVN-TV. Television service continued until the American troop population dropped in 1971-72. Detachments were closed and AFVN-TV left the air in early 1973 as the Paris Peace Accords took effect. Most equipment and facilities were transferred to THVN, the South Vietnamese TV network.
—Billy Williams, Television in Vietnam, Popular Electronics magazine, April 1966 ）
Color filming units of THVN9 broadcasting a National Armed Forces Day parade, Saigon, 16 June 1971.
THVN9 broadcast the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany with the playback of video recordings donated by the host country, a few days later than the actual match times. 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. 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. South Vietnam collapsed when Minh announced the surrender on national radio in the afternoon.
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 Viet Cong. Vietnam Television's final programming aired the evening of April 29, 1975.
At 15:45 on April 30, 1975, the group (or 12 comrades from Central Propaganda Department) entered and occupied the Saigon Television Station, taking over Saigon Television Station, the takeover team had to sleep in the hallway, not daring to enter the central area for fear of the enemy planting a bomb. After checking, all equipment and machinery of the station was still intact, so they reported to the Military Management Board and station leaders, who were ordered: "Try to carry out the broadcast on the night of May 1." However, the technical team is still very unfamiliar with the machinery and equipment of Saigon Television. Fortunately, that morning a few former employees came and they, along with the old staff and the crew, took over operating the machines, preparing well for a successful first broadcast night on May 1, 1975.
On that same day, the station was reconstituted as Saigon Liberation Television Station (Đài Truyền-hình Sài-gòn Giải-phóng, SGTV) with its first broadcast featuring the surrender declaration by President Minh the previous day.
Executive committee: LCĐỗ Việt (first director), FDĐỗ Tiến Đức (second director), Lê Hoàng Hoa (first deputy director and executive producer)...
Operational divisions: Hoàng Trọng (music producer), Hoàng Thái (camera operator), Robert C. Gassert (technical advisor), Wyndham P. Duncan (sound advisor), Hoàng Thị Lệ Hợp (newsreader), Mai Thy (newsreader), Tuyết Mai (newsreader), Mai Liên (newsreader), Nguyễn Đình Khánh (newsreader), Nguyễn Văn Đông, Nguyễn Thế Bảo, Trần Văn Trạch (MC), Ngọc Phu (MC)...
Ladies and gentlemen! This is Vietnam Television, broadcast on channel 9.
—Start
Ladies and gentlemen! Vietnam Television's broadcast has ended. We usually try our best to improve in the fields of information, education and entertainment, so be content. Goodbye and see you again tomorrow, also on channel 9 of our Network.
—Final
Lieutenant-General Nguyen Van Thieu at the microphone during a press conference on the eve of the national election, 2 September 1967. Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky is to right conference took place at Independence Palace.Two female newscasters stand by in the studio on 23 January 1967
Time
Thursday, March 2, 1972
18:00
Signal theme and saluting to the national flag, then the present of daily list
18:05
Short news
18:10
Civil defence
19:00
Announcement
19:05
Weekly news
19:15
New music to audiences
20:00
News
20:30
Mobilize voice
21:00
Criticize
21:10
Mobilize voice (continue)
21:30
Press review
21:40
International news
21:50
Drama Lady from Hatien of Southern Wind band
22:30
Exclusive news
22:35
Drama Lady from Hatien (continue)
24:00
Signal theme and saluting to the national flag, then saying goodbye
List of featured programmes broadcast by the THVN9:
00 giờ (00 o'clock entertainment show) by Thẩm Thúy Hằng
15 phút chuyện vui (15 minutes for funny stories) by La Thoại Tân
Nearby permanent programmes, THVN9's directorate permitted all of South Vietnames citizens to have the right to "bidding" (đấu thầu) for buying the TV signal. Normally including officials, scholars, especially artists (vocalists, actors...). Languages included Vietnamese (primarily), Chinese, French, English, Khmer and Montagnard.
In divided Vietnam, the highlight of Vietnamese Catholicism and the Fátima messages was the visit of one of a few official statues of Our Lady of Fátima to South Vietnam in 1965. Originally scheduled for a three-month visit, this particular statue came from the Blue Army chapter in Australia and ended up traveling the country until 1967. It was known as the “immaculate heart” statue because it puts her heart on the outside. This event was THVN (at the trial phase) lively recorded.
Nearby the media, THVN9 Network also sponsored the Young Music Festival and Vietnam Film Day. During the 1970s, Young Music Festival was the biggest cultural event in Asia and Oceania. It has attracted many vocalists and bands from South Vietnam, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and even the United States. Their purpose was an anti-war exhortation and a supporting peace for whole world.
On 27 April 1971, THVN9 reported Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng's tour. She performed at Lệ Thanh Theatre, Bát Đạt Grand Hotel in the capital Saigon for a month, then visited the Western Delta. Teng performed first hit No of composer Nguyễn Ánh 9 by Japanese and Mandarin language.
After 30 April 1975, total of videotapes were transferred to People's Army of Vietnam's Archives at No. 83 Lý Nam Đế street in Hanoi. However, some still existed by collectors. Many other copytapes were held by governments such as Australia, Canada, Denmark (Danish Vietnamese Association), France (AFP), West Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea (KBS), Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom (BBC), United States (AP). Besides, many of them were still used by modern Vietnamese filmmakers to do propaganda documentary ones.
In Los Angeles during the 1980s, some former technicians re-established THVN9 to broadcast news and dramas by Vietnamese language for service to the Vietnamese American community. They registered a trademark as the Abroad-THVN Television Network (Vietnamese: Truyền-hình Việt-nam Hải-ngoại) to differentiate former THVN9 or Domestic-THVN.
Civilians watch TV on the Saigon waterfront in January 1967
Civilians watching TV at Saigon market in January 1967
Composer Hoàng Trọng and Sound-of-Musical-Instrument band in 1968
↑Băng Đình (2005). "Hội Ngộ Truyền Thông V.N.C.H. Sau 30 Năm Saigon Thất Thủ". Đặc San 3 Chu Văn An. Sydney.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
↑"THVN9 News". Vietnamese Radio in Australia (VNRA). Retrieved 2014-04-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
↑David Lan Pham Two Hamlets in Nam Bo: Memoirs of Life in Vietnam Through Japanese ... Page 98 2008 "Phạm Duy, Lam Phương, Hoàng Thị Thơ, Văn Phụng were the most well known composers at that time."
↑Adelaida Reyes Songs of the Caged, Songs of the Free: Music and the Vietnamese Refugee Experience. 1999 Page 124 "The local in this case has global implications. Many of Vietnam's most famous musicians now reside in Orange County. The presence of Pham Duy, Thai Thanh, Hoang Oanh, Hoang Thi Tho, Viet Hung, Duy Khanh, Khanh Ly, and Kim Tuyen, among others — luminaries in the Vietnamese musical firmament by the time they left Vietnam — has led overseas."
