VOV Director General Vu Van Hien made the announcement at conference in Hanoi on November 28, which was attended by representatives from the Government Office, the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Culture and Ideology and directors of 16 provincial radio and television stations.  

Mr Hien said under a Government decision, VOV will work with localities to identify locations, broadcasting schemes and technical solutions to implement the nearly VND200 billion project. Apart from purchasing new equipment, the project management board will organise basic and follow-up training courses for ethnic reporters, editors, presenters and technicians of local radio stations.

According to Mr Hien, the project will also help increase VOV’s transmission capacity. For the time being, he said VOV will broadcast on the FM frequency and develop public address (PA) systems in remote and mountainous areas.

From now till 2010, transmission stations will be built in these localities to relay the Cultural and Social Affairs Channel (VOV2), the Music and Entertainment Channel (VOV3) and the Ethnic Languages Channel (VOV4).