Major countries have required apps to be installed on smart TVs
In the Russian Federation, the list of applications that must be pre-installed on smart TVs is regulated by the Federal Law on Protection of Consumer Rights. The Russian Federal Law sets the criteria for pre-installed applications, authorizes the Prime Minister to approve the list of applications according to the criteria, and assigns the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Communications the responsibility for management and implementation.
The UK has a provision for “Prominent Display for Public Broadcasting Services” in the draft Media Bill (Media Bill, 2023). In it, the draft Bill empowers the UK’s Communications Regulator (OFCOM) to prescribe criteria and decide which applications are selected for pre-installation on smart TVs. The priority applications are national broadcast television applications, meeting the needs of the public, promoting local content (the evaluation criteria do not include technical requirements). However, the draft bill has not yet been issued.
In Australia, the government has recognized the need and has drafted regulations on the pre-installation of public television service applications on smart TVs in circulation in the country. In particular, it has proposed a solution that in the case of multiple applications, they will be put into a common category called "local services". It is considered a super application or a folder placed on the home screen, with priority when turning on the TV. When users turn on the TV, they can access this super application, this folder to select specific applications. However, the draft regulation of Australia has not been issued.
In China, due to many specific factors, foreign applications are not popular in this country. Currently, China does not require applications to be pre-installed on smart TVs, only that the installation of software on mobile devices must ensure that it does not violate the prohibitions under Chinese law.
2 million smart TVs have installed VTVGo
According to Mr. Nguyen Ha Yen, Deputy Director of the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information (DTT&EC), the Ministry of Information and Communications has coordinated with Vietnam Television (VTV) to turn the VTVGo application from an application of the National Television Station into a national digital television platform.
With approximately 45 million downloads, VTVGo was recognized as a digital platform serving the people by the end of 2022. The VTVGo platform currently has 7 essential central TV channels and 31 local channels. According to the plan, by December 31, 2023, all 63 local TV channels will be available on the VTVGo platform.
VTVGo is oriented to be one of the important, official information channels to provide free advertising to the people. Therefore, according to Mr. Nguyen Ha Yen, when forming the National Digital Television platform, the goal of the Ministry of Information and Communications in 2023 is to bring VTVGo to all TVs manufactured, distributed and imported in Vietnam.
The Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information has worked with 5 TV manufacturing, importing and supplying companies that account for 94% of the market share in Vietnam to bring the VTVGo platform to all TVs manufactured, distributed and imported in Vietnam. Currently, VTVGo has been designed to be compatible with many popular smart TV operating systems such as Android TV, WebOS, Tizen. In addition, the VTVGo application has also been uploaded to Apple's Apple Store, Google's CH Play for Mobile and TV versions, Microsoft Store, Sony Store, Amazon FireStick, Samsung Tizen, LG WebOS.
In the current Vietnamese market, Casper Company has pre-installed the VTVGo application on smart TVs in Vietnam since 2019. Sony has signed an agreement with VTV to pre-install the VTVGo application. Currently, LG has also proactively contacted VTV about pre-installing the VTVGo application.
To date, approximately 2 million smart TVs in use in Vietnam have been installed with the VTVGo application. Thus, although Vietnam has not yet had regulations requiring smart TVs to have the VTVGo application pre-installed before being circulated on the market, the dissemination and communication of legal policies has been effective.
Smart TV providers have grasped Vietnam's policies and laws. Some businesses have proactively deployed the pre-installation of VTVGo application on smart TVs before circulating them on the market. In addition, VTVGo application has also been designed to be compatible with many different operating systems and uploaded to the application stores of smart TV manufacturers, ready for users to download and use (in case it is not pre-installed).
Currently, TV manufacturing, importing and distribution enterprises in Vietnam commit to pre-installing the VTVGo application when there are regulations and instructions from competent management agencies.
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