VietNamNet
Bridge - The need for more airtime and better scheduling for children’s
programmes was stressed by local filmmakers as well as television stations TV
broadcasting officials at a seminar held in Can Tho city early this week.

Airtime
for children’s programmes on Da Nang Television was 10.3 per cent, on Ha Noi
Television (HNTV), 9.1 per cent, and on Viet Nam Television (VTV) is 8 per
cent, and in several provincial stations, just 2 per cent, said Huynh Mai Huong
of Ho Chi Minh TV (HTV).

“Children
programmes are broadcast at 2.30pm, 6.30pm or 7.30pm every day failing to
attract young viewers, who are either at school or are beginning to do their
homework at home,” she added.

Musician
The Long of the VTV in Can Tho said: “We produced 147 programmes in
different styles for children in 2008; this dropped to 51 programmes in 2009
and just 47 this year. “

A recent
survey by psychologist Dr Huynh Van Son and his team showed that only 30-45 per
cent of children in HCM City and neighbouring provinces watched TV programmes
designed for them.

“Most
viewers prefer watching foreign productions on cable channels such as Disney
Channel and Cartoon Network, because domestic works are poorly made and
boring,” he said.

Cartoon
time is the highlight of the afternoon for children, but over 90 per cent of
the cartoons shown on TV are imported productions.

The
relatively few Vietnamese cartoons shown use outdated technology and
uninspiring scripts, and they are losing out in a big way to high-tech,
sophisticated productions from Japan, China and the US.

To
produce a programme for children, VTV spends around VND3.7 million (US$ 160) –
including the royalty of VND500,000 ($25) for the show’s director – these
meagre figures tell their own story, according to speakers at the seminar.

Many
skilled producers and directors refuse to make children’s programmes because
they see it a poor business opportunity.

One
official with Ha Noi Television (HNTV) said that without increased financial
investment and new policies, “our TV programmes will continue to fail to
attract children”.

He said
many provincial TV stations still lacked professional staff, modern technology
and support from related offices to promote their broadcasts.

Also
attending the seminar, held within the auspices of the National Television
Festival held in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city, were representatives from
foreign TV stations including Australia’s ABC, China’s CCVT and Japan’s NHK.

Source:
VNS