VieON SVoD for Vietnam
June 15, 2020
By Colin Mann
Vietnamese entertainment group DatVietVAC is launching its new streaming service, VieON, following four years of development, suggesting it marks the beginning of a new era for the company.
Born out of a partnership with BCG Digital Ventures (BCGDV), the global corporate venture incubation and investment arm of Boston Consulting Gsroup, the platform has positioned itself as Vietnam’s most advanced OTT platform. VieON is expected to integrate over 100 traditional TV channels and over 100,000 hours of copyrighted content. Additionally, top new titles will air first on VieON, including the hit series Gao Nep Gao Te (Season 2) and web drama – Hai Duong Trong Gio.
With the launch of VieON, DatVietVAC says it is helping to drive a new standard of streaming in the Vietnamese market, bringing a best-in-class experience across all platforms – mobile, SmartTVs, and on desktop.
International OTT platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Iqiyi and WeTV have already found favour in Vietnam. However, there has been criticism in Vietnam that these platforms feature very little local content and prioritise content with international appeal. This strategy has meant that many Vietnamese viewers have had to look elsewhere for content that reflects their tastes.
A contentious issue in the debate over OTT platforms in Vietnam, many international players face criticism for evading regulations imposed on their Vietnamese counterparts, including issues of content licensing, censorship and taxation.
As a new and local OTT platform, VieON has already stated its intention to become the foremost digital service for Vietnamese audiences. Its parent company, DatVietVAC was established in 1994, and quickly grew to be Vietnam’s largest privately-owned TV and media company.
Many of the company’s previous series and shows, including Sieu Tri Tue and Gap Nep Gao Te have gone on to become staples of Vietnamese TV. Leveraging its understanding of local tastes, VieON aims to carve out a place for itself by focusing on content that will cater especially to Vietnamese audience and celebrate ruling Vietnamese culture and history.
However, the platform is also expected to feature a large library of international content, including recent blockbusters and series. VieON has made public its ambition to reach international markets including Southeast Asia, Korea, Taiwan, Mainland China and the US thanks to this diversified content.
A first for Vietnam, local audiences will be able to access copyrighted international content through VieON. The platform’s library is set to include:
- Over 100,000 hours of series and shows
- Thousands of movies and dramas from Hollywood, Korea, China and Vietnam
- Over a hundred international and local TV channels
- A large, exclusive content library including: TV Series – Gao Nep Gao Te (Season 2), Web drama – Hai Duong Trong Gio, Original mini drama – Khong The Roi Mat with special casting of Jack J-97, along with special releases of Cay Tao No Hoa, Em Uoc Minh Cung Bay by Phan Dang Di and Ca Doi Lam Me by Nguyen Quang Dung, leading Vietnamese directors.
To mark the occasion, DatVietVAC is holding a three-day launch event starting from 8PM every day between June the 15th and 17th. The experience, with participation from over 1,000 users, including influencers, artists, and partners worldwide, will be livestreamed on VieON and broadcast on DatVietVAC-owned HTV2 Vie Channel, Vie Dramas, Vie GiaiTri.
Users will be able to upgrade to a VIP account to receive exclusive early access to series, shows and other high-quality content.
To celebrate the occasion, VieON is offering exclusive introductory offers to Vietnamese audiences. This includes a four-month subscription for Dong 66,000 (€2.52) – equivalent to VND 16,000 per month.