13/02/2010 19:51:00 PM
VOV – one year in retrospect
2009 was an exciting year for Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) as it saw a series of events that marked strong growth.
These important landmarks have provided a firm foundation for VOV managers, editors, reporters, technicians and other staff members, artists to feel confident about the New Year. The most prominent events include:
1. Receiving the title of Hero of the People’s Armed Forces.
On the 64th anniversary of VOV (September 9, 1945 – September 9, 2009), State President Nguyen Minh Triet visited the radio broadcasting centre and presented it with the title of Hero of the People’s Armed Forces – the highest award of the Party and State - for its contribution to national construction and defence.
2. Inauguration of the new Radio Broadcasting Centre at 58 Quang Su Street, Hanoi – to mark the 1,000th year of Thang Long-Hanoi.
On May 18, 2009, VOV inaugurated the National Radio Broadcast Centre – the region’s most modern centre – which was stamped with “a project to mark the 1,000th year of Thang Long-Hanoi” by the Hanoi City People’s Committee. The inauguration ceremony was honoured by the presence of Vice chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Kien.
3. Rearranging and improving the quality of programmes of the News, Current Affairs and Politics Channel (VOV1), the Culture, Science and Education Channel (VOV2), the News Centre, VOV Online Newspaper (VOVNews), and VOV Print Newspaper.
Editorial office of VOVNews
To meet the practical demands for improving the efficiency of information dissemination, VOV leaders directed relevant departments to work closely with editorial sections and rearrange in a professional and creative manner, particularly with the news centre (the key department in producing news and features for VOV).
4. Broadcasting in the K’Tu language in the central region and launching a land broadcasting station.
On October 21, in Da Nang City, VOV broadcasts in the K’Tu language at 100MHz FM, bringing its total number of broadcasting languages to 12. This is the first ethnic minority language programme launched in the central region to serve 180,000 K’Tu ethnic minority people who are living along Truong Son mountain.
Since September 7, 2009, VOV TV has increased its airtime to 18 hours per day.
5. Completing the first phase of the East Sea broadcasting project.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung pressed button to issue an order to broadcast VOV Traffic channel in Ho Chi Minh City
On August 28, 2009, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung pressed the button at Radio Transmitting Station (VN1) to launch the East Sea broadcasting project. It can cover 3,500-4,000km beyond the coastline, including all territorial waters of Vietnam and some adjacent areas so that listeners across the country, especially fishermen and soldiers operating offshore or living on islands are able to get news updates, concerning inland developments as well as rescue efforts and military duties at sea.
6. VOV Traffic channel on 91 MHz deployed successfully in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
After the past 7 months of broadcasting, the VOV Traffic information channel in Hanoi has proved very effective, on December 15, 2009, the same channel was launched in Ho Chi Minh City with the aim of reducing traffic jams and accidents, increasing people’s awareness of traffic law and building a law-abiding travel culture.
7. Testing digital radio in Vietnam successfully for the second time (DRM Standards in Dong Hoi and HD Radio in Hanoi) and carrying out the transmission of radio signals through VINASAT-1 Satellite.
VOV coordinated with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) to organise a digital radio workshop with an HD Radio focus at VOV headquarters on 45 Ba Trieu Street in Hanoi in February 2009. The event concentrated on researching the application of digital radio technology following HD Radio standards on FM and AM frequency bands and assessing the area of wave coverage and technological parameters of the HD-Radio system now being tested in VOV’s programming. All this is part of VOV’s strategy for digital radio development in 2005-2010.
9. Carrying out staff planning and training until 2020.
Following Decree 16/2008/ND-CP on February 4, 2008 by the Government, VOV completed its staff planning with 29 units at the department level, 7 agencies residing abroad and strengthening the organization of its staff. In 2009, it fulfilled its training target by arranging for 700 staff to study and do research and organising 9 international training courses for 144 staff.
10. Promoting sources of revenue from the Radio Broadcasting Service and Advertisement Centre to contribute to stabilising staff’s lives.
Despite many difficulties due to the global economic downturn, the Radio Broadcasting Service and Advertisement Centre still accomplished its objectives and surpassed its normal source of revenue from advertisements and contributed to stabilising the lives of over 2,000 VOV staff.
Dao Duy Hua
VOV's Deputy General Director