No entertainment shows, only movies for Netflix in Vietnam

Starting Monday Netflix will remove all entertainment and reality shows from its platform in Vietnam and only distribute film-related content to comply with local laws.

The U.S.-based streaming service would only show films that have been classified, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information said in a recent release.

In Vietnam, film and entertainment shows fall under different categories and are subject to different regulations.

Distributors of entertainment shows need to set up a company in Vietnam, but film distributors do not.

Netflix has to remove content entertainment and reality shows such as “Love on the Spectrum,” “Longest Third Date” and “Down For Love.”

After the decree on entertainment shows came into effect in 2023, some platforms withdrew from Vietnam, including U.S.-based Amazon’s Prime Video service which shut down in October after a seven-year presence.

China’s Iqiyi was flagged the same month for distributing entertainment shows since it has registered only to provide film-related content.

The broadcasting authority said last year that the enforcement of such regulations aims to ensure fair competition between domestic and international television businesses.

Earlier foreign platforms benefited from regulatory gaps, with some avoiding taxes or distributing prohibited content, it said.

“New regulations, issued to ensure fairness, have caused some companies to cease operations in Vietnam,” Le Quang Tu Do, the authority’s director, said at the time.

“Adjusting business models to comply with local laws is a routine part of doing business.”