Asia Television Limited
Encyclopedia
Asia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong
, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited
(TVB). It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television
as the first television station
in Hong Kong. It was bought out, renamed, and restructured to "Asia Television Limited" in 1982.
ATV currently operates six channels: the 24-hour ATV Home
channel in Cantonese
; the 22-hour ATV World
channel in English
; the 24-hour Cantonese
satellite channel ATV Home (America), which is accessible in North America
via satellite, and three digital DMB-T/H
channels: aTV Asia, a 24-hour high-definition
channel; CCTV-1
, the international channel of China Central Television
, China.
Prior to 1 April 2009, the following DMB-T/H channels were in operation: News & Business, a 24-hour news and finance news channel; His TV, a 24-hour sports and infotainment channel aimed at men; Her TV, a 24-hour lifestyle infotainment channel aimed at women; Plus TV, a 24-hour documentary channel; and HDTV, a 24-hour high-definition channel.
In 2002, ATV gained approval from China's State Administration for Radio, Film and Television to beam its Home and World channels to the Guangdong
Pearl River Delta
region. ATV has also established a close relationship with Guangdong TV
to ensure their stable cooperation in programme productions, advertising, and sales.
ATV has received numerous awards for its programmes. One of its successes is the local version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
(百萬富翁), a game show originally launched in the United Kingdom
in 1998. In 2001, ATV bought the production rights for the Hong Kong market and subsequently enjoyed an upturn in its viewing figures. TVB responded by producing similar game shows.
, the predecessor to ATV, began as a wired radio broadcasting service in 1949. The original office was located on Arsenal Street and Hennessy Road. It launched its subscription-based TV service on 29 May 1957. In 1959, Refiffusion was moved to the offices that was occupied by Fortis Bank Tower.
In 1962, Typhoon Wanda
passed over Hong Kong, resulting in hundreds of deaths. Following the passage of Wanda, Rediffusion broadcast the first-ever fund-raising special as a result. The first televised artiste course broadcasted was in 1966 under the title, "Ying Li's voice."
In October 1968, new shows were broadcast on Rediffusion, including variety, sports, and other leisure of interest that attracted more viewers. The most notable show at that time was "Master Q
".
Rediffusion was given a free-to-air television broadcasting license in 1973 by the Hong Kong Government. This comes after the government had switched to using the wireless television, which Rediffusion was one of two (currently four) free-to-air stations (the other is TVB
). It has remained this way .
In 1976, the Hong Kong government introduced a new lottery system that was broadcast twice a week on Rediffusion. The first host of that show was Xia Chunqiu.
in the UK
sold 61% of its shares in RTV to an Australia
n consortium. In July 1982, a Chinese enterprise called Far East Group , owned by the Chiu family, took a stake in the company, such that Far East Group and the Australian consortium each held 50% of RTV's shares. The move marked the first time that a Chinese enterprise had played a role in RTV. RTV was renamed "Asia Television" later in the same year.
The company that operated ATV frequently recorded losses, and in January 1984, following the withdrawal of the Australian enterprise, the Chiu family bought all of the shares.
In August 1987, the shares of ATV were put up for sale. One year later, Asia Television Limited, the Lam family (led by Lim Por Yen), and the New World Group
each owned one-third of the shares. At that time, the members of Board of Directors included Deacon Chiu , Lim Por-yen
, Fang Li and Cheng Yu-tung
.
On 30 January 1989, the Chiu family sold its shares of ATV to New World Group and Lai Sun Group
for HK$
237.5 million. The New World Group held half of the shares, while the Lam family owned one-third and Lai Sun held one-sixth. At the same time, Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau
(STDM) joined as a minority shareholder. As announced by the Board of Directors, the new Chairman was Cheng Yue-tung and the Vice-Chairman was Lim Por Yen. The Administrative Director was Selina Chow
.
In November 2002, Lai Sun Development, which was heavily indebted following the HK$7 billion acquisition of the Furama Hotel at the height of the property bubble in 1997, announced that it would sell its 32.75% stake to the company's chief executive, Chan Wing-kee (陳永棋), for HK$360 million in cash.
In June 2007, Chan, along with Liu Changle (劉長樂), chairman of Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Limited
, established a company that later bought most of ATV's shares. Afterwards, Chan Wing-kei took the post of Administrative Director General. With the change of shareholder, there was innovation in the direction of production, marketing strategy, and human resources. One of the significant changes is the increasing purchase of foreign programmes, such as the South Korean Drama Autumn in My Heart/Endless Love
(藍色生死戀).
In December 2008, City Telecom
chairman Ricky Wong Wai Kay was assigned as new the chief executive. While former PCCW
deputy chairman Linus Cheung Wing-lam
becomes executive chairman. After just 2 weeks Ricky Wong resigned from his position due to many factors. In early 2009, Taiwanese
billionaire Tsai Eng-meng (蔡衍明) signed a preliminary agreement to become a key shareholder of Alnery, a company that controls 47.58% of ATV. Tsai has agreed to inject HK$1 billion in the form of convertible bonds. Tsai and Payson Cha have since debated over control of the station.
in Kowloon Tong
and moved into a new facility in Tai Po
. The original home was demolished in 2008-2009 and is now a residential development.
The Tai Po production facilities cover 550000 square feet (51,096.7 m²) and is three times larger than the old facilities on Broadcast Drive. The Tai Po facilities have four news studios, eight variety show and drama studios and a range of digital broadcasting facilities. The largest studio covers 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²).
The new HQ is the former site of the Lee Kum Kee
's Hong Kong headquarters and factory operations in Hong Kong.
ATV News is the news gathering arm of ATV. It produces daily newscasts in Cantonese, Mandarin
, and English
, which are seen on its Home, World, and News & Business Channels. Additional foreign news coverage is provided by CNN
and CBS
. The station has long been recognized as pro-Beijing.
, infotainment
, drama
, and variety shows. In addition to producing its own shows, ATV has acquired popular TV programmes from overseas markets to cater to changing audience tastes. Of note, ATV has bought in popular TV dramas from South Korea
and Mainland China
for broadcast in prime time.
In recent years, ATV has created and hosted certain large-scale award shows. The most well-known would probably be The Annual Most Popular TV Commercial Awards (十大電視廣告頒獎禮).
Other infotainment programmes like Stories From Afar (尋找他鄉的故事) ranked highly in the Appreciation Index Survey Best Television Awards (香港電視節目欣賞指數), as reflected by a public review.
Some ATV programmes, such as the entertainment news show Hong Kong Today (今日睇真D) and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (百萬富翁), have proved particularly popular, prompting local rival TVB
to offer similar fare.
Asia Television used to air the British Science Fiction Programme Doctor Who
and were responsible for returning one of their copies to the BBC
, when BBC Enterprises wiped many Doctor Who serials in the 1970s. The Tomb of the Cybermen
returned in late 1991.
(甜心俏佳人), Survivor
(生還者), Smallville
(超人前傳), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
(滅罪鑑證科), Elizabeth I (伊利沙伯一世傳奇), CSI: Miami
(鑑證行動組), Cold Case (鐵證懸案), CSI: NY
(鑑證紐約), Grey's Anatomy
(醫人當自強), The Closer
(真相追擊), Doctor Who
(異世奇人), and Ghost Whisperer
(靈感應). ATV stopped carrying the talk show Late Show with David Letterman
(大衛牙擦騷) , but there has been a grass-roots movement to bring it back. Arts and sports programming are also offered (e.g. local horse racing
, in Chinese 賽馬直擊). Mandarin and Korean
programmes are available on ATV World at off-peak hours.
ATV World's flagship English news programme is Main News and Weather Report at 7:30, provided under the collective effort of ATV News
.
Given its focus on English-language programming in a predominantly Cantonese-speaking market, ATV World carries relatively little advertising and is subsidised by ATV Home. Both free-to-air television companies in Hong Kong are required by the government to provide an English-language service. In the face of competition from TVB Pearl
, ATV World has, in recent years, switched focus from dramas and movies to documentaries and natural history shows, likely because such programming is less expensive to acquire. Although movies formerly aired on Saturdays, movies acquired by ATV are generally aired on Monday nights, leading to the Late News programme .
, the other terrestrial television station in Hong Kong. TVB is regarded as the driving force behind ATV's decision to transform its Pay TV operation to terrestrial TV broadcasting.
For many years, TVB has been the predominant ratings leader in Hong Kong, its programmes often capturing 90-95% of viewing audience. In the Pearl River Delta
area of China
, ATV used to enjoy a 70% ratings share in the late 90s, largely due to rebroadcasting rights. The ratings share has since reduced to 2-3%.
, self-censorship
is commonly practised at media organisations whose owners have business interests in mainland China
. A shift in ownership of ATV in mid-2006 sparked concern that ATV would become even more pro-Beijing.
For example, the pro-democracy 1 July marches usually makes the headline news on TVB, but ATV usually makes the pro-Beijing counter protests the headline news. ATV also attempts to dilute the pro-democracy message of the marches by saying the participants have different messages.
The view that aTV has taken a pro-Beijing bias has largely shifted towards TVB by 2009. aTV had broadcast the 20th Anniversary 4 June gathering as part of their main news, even using footage of the people's movement in 1989, which was highly praised by internet users; by contrast, TVB merely dabbed the issue, and this seems to have taken on self-censoring, drawing criticism from netizens and forum users, mocking and jeering that TVB had become "CCTVB
".
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
(TVB). It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television
Rediffusion Television
Rediffusion Television was the first television station in Hong Kong, established on May 29, 1957, making it both the first British colony and the first predominantly Chinese city to have television...
as the first television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
in Hong Kong. It was bought out, renamed, and restructured to "Asia Television Limited" in 1982.
ATV currently operates six channels: the 24-hour ATV Home
ATV Home
ATV Home , also call aTV1, is one of the free-to-air Cantonese language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival TVB Jade. Its sister station, ATV World, broadcasts in English...
channel in Cantonese
Standard Cantonese
Cantonese, or Standard Cantonese, is a language that originated in the vicinity of Canton in southern China, and is often regarded as the prestige dialect of Yue Chinese....
; the 22-hour ATV World
ATV World
ATV World , is one of the free-to-air English language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival TVB Pearl. Its sister station, ATV Home, broadcasts in Cantonese language...
channel in English
Standard English
Standard English refers to whatever form of the English language is accepted as a national norm in an Anglophone country...
; the 24-hour Cantonese
Standard Cantonese
Cantonese, or Standard Cantonese, is a language that originated in the vicinity of Canton in southern China, and is often regarded as the prestige dialect of Yue Chinese....
satellite channel ATV Home (America), which is accessible in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
via satellite, and three digital DMB-T/H
DMB-T/H
DTMB is the TV standard for mobile and fixed terminals used in the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong and Macau. Although at first this standard was called DMB-T/H , the official name is DTMB.DTT broadcasting systems...
channels: aTV Asia, a 24-hour high-definition
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
channel; CCTV-1
CCTV-1
CCTV-1 is the primary channel of the Chinese television network, CCTV in the People's Republic of China. It has a mixture of all kinds of TV programs, and is available to both cable and terrestrial television viewers.-External links:*...
, the international channel of China Central Television
China Central Television
China Central Television or Chinese Central Television, commonly abbreviated as CCTV, is the major state television broadcaster in mainland China. CCTV has a network of 19 channels broadcasting different programmes and is accessible to more than one billion viewers...
, China.
Prior to 1 April 2009, the following DMB-T/H channels were in operation: News & Business, a 24-hour news and finance news channel; His TV, a 24-hour sports and infotainment channel aimed at men; Her TV, a 24-hour lifestyle infotainment channel aimed at women; Plus TV, a 24-hour documentary channel; and HDTV, a 24-hour high-definition channel.
In 2002, ATV gained approval from China's State Administration for Radio, Film and Television to beam its Home and World channels to the Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
Pearl River Delta
Pearl River Delta
The Pearl River Delta , Zhujiang Delta or Zhusanjiao in Guangdong province, People's Republic of China is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea...
region. ATV has also established a close relationship with Guangdong TV
Guangdong TV
Guangdong Television is a television network owned by Southern Media Corporation in Guangzhou, Guangdong province in China. Guangdong TV is the oldest television station in Guangdong province, based in Guangzhou, near the Guangzhou TV Station. The station covers Guangdong and Guangxi provinces...
to ensure their stable cooperation in programme productions, advertising, and sales.
ATV has received numerous awards for its programmes. One of its successes is the local version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a television game show which offers large cash prizes for correctly answering a series of multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty. The format is owned and licensed by Sony Pictures Television International. The maximum cash prize is one million pounds...
(百萬富翁), a game show originally launched in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1998. In 2001, ATV bought the production rights for the Hong Kong market and subsequently enjoyed an upturn in its viewing figures. TVB responded by producing similar game shows.
Early years
Rediffusion TelevisionRediffusion Television
Rediffusion Television was the first television station in Hong Kong, established on May 29, 1957, making it both the first British colony and the first predominantly Chinese city to have television...
, the predecessor to ATV, began as a wired radio broadcasting service in 1949. The original office was located on Arsenal Street and Hennessy Road. It launched its subscription-based TV service on 29 May 1957. In 1959, Refiffusion was moved to the offices that was occupied by Fortis Bank Tower.
In 1962, Typhoon Wanda
Typhoon Wanda (1962)
Typhoon Wanda was the most intense tropical cyclone on record in Hong Kong. It was the 59th disturbance in the record-breaking 1962 Pacific typhoon season, forming in August east of the Philippines...
passed over Hong Kong, resulting in hundreds of deaths. Following the passage of Wanda, Rediffusion broadcast the first-ever fund-raising special as a result. The first televised artiste course broadcasted was in 1966 under the title, "Ying Li's voice."
In October 1968, new shows were broadcast on Rediffusion, including variety, sports, and other leisure of interest that attracted more viewers. The most notable show at that time was "Master Q
Old Master Q
Old Master Q is a popular Chinese manhua created by Alfonso Wong. The cartoon first appeared in the newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong in 1962, and later serialized in 1964...
".
Rediffusion was given a free-to-air television broadcasting license in 1973 by the Hong Kong Government. This comes after the government had switched to using the wireless television, which Rediffusion was one of two (currently four) free-to-air stations (the other is TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
). It has remained this way .
In 1976, the Hong Kong government introduced a new lottery system that was broadcast twice a week on Rediffusion. The first host of that show was Xia Chunqiu.
Ownership shift
In 1981, RediffusionAssociated-Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion, later Rediffusion, London, was the British ITV contractor for London and parts of the surrounding counties, on weekdays between 1954 and 29 July 1968. Transmissions started on 22 September 1955.-Formation:...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sold 61% of its shares in RTV to an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n consortium. In July 1982, a Chinese enterprise called Far East Group , owned by the Chiu family, took a stake in the company, such that Far East Group and the Australian consortium each held 50% of RTV's shares. The move marked the first time that a Chinese enterprise had played a role in RTV. RTV was renamed "Asia Television" later in the same year.
The company that operated ATV frequently recorded losses, and in January 1984, following the withdrawal of the Australian enterprise, the Chiu family bought all of the shares.
In August 1987, the shares of ATV were put up for sale. One year later, Asia Television Limited, the Lam family (led by Lim Por Yen), and the New World Group
New World Development
New World Development Company Limited , based in Hong Kong, is active in property, infrastructure, services and telecommunications. It was established in 1970 with Dr Ho Sin Hang as Chairman and Chow Chi Yuen as Director and General Manager...
each owned one-third of the shares. At that time, the members of Board of Directors included Deacon Chiu , Lim Por-yen
Lim Por-yen
Lim Por-yen was a Hong Kong textiles tycoon and banker. He founded the Lai Sun Group , and his family was the biggest shareholder of Asia Television .-Biography:...
, Fang Li and Cheng Yu-tung
Cheng Yu-tung
Cheng Yu-tung GBM is a Hong Kong billionaire with extensive business dealings and real estate interests in both Hong Kong and Macau. He owns the privately-held Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, a conglomerate which operates the Sheraton Marina hotel and controls the publicly listed New World group...
.
On 30 January 1989, the Chiu family sold its shares of ATV to New World Group and Lai Sun Group
Lai Sun Development
Lai Sun Development is a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange established in 1987 by the textiles magnate Lim Por-yen. His company, Lai Sun Garment, was founded in 1947, is also listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange...
for HK$
Hong Kong dollar
The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
237.5 million. The New World Group held half of the shares, while the Lam family owned one-third and Lai Sun held one-sixth. At the same time, Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau
Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau
The Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau, SA is a company in Macau owned by Stanley Ho and his family. Historically it held a monopoly to Macau's gambling industry as the only licensee for casinos. In 2002, the Macau government began issuing more licenses and the monopoly was broken...
(STDM) joined as a minority shareholder. As announced by the Board of Directors, the new Chairman was Cheng Yue-tung and the Vice-Chairman was Lim Por Yen. The Administrative Director was Selina Chow
Selina Chow
Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee, GBS OBE JP was a member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. She was the former vice-chairman of the Liberal Party . She is also well-known in Hong Kong for her career in broadcasting.An alumnus of St...
.
In November 2002, Lai Sun Development, which was heavily indebted following the HK$7 billion acquisition of the Furama Hotel at the height of the property bubble in 1997, announced that it would sell its 32.75% stake to the company's chief executive, Chan Wing-kee (陳永棋), for HK$360 million in cash.
In June 2007, Chan, along with Liu Changle (劉長樂), chairman of Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Limited
Phoenix Television
Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Ltd or Phoenix Television is a Hong Kong-based Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese television broadcaster that serves the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong along with other markets with substantial Chinese viewers...
, established a company that later bought most of ATV's shares. Afterwards, Chan Wing-kei took the post of Administrative Director General. With the change of shareholder, there was innovation in the direction of production, marketing strategy, and human resources. One of the significant changes is the increasing purchase of foreign programmes, such as the South Korean Drama Autumn in My Heart/Endless Love
Endless Love (TV series)
Endless Love was the unofficial title for a set of four Korean drama series directed by Yoon Seok-Ho, produced by KBS stations.- Structure :...
(藍色生死戀).
In December 2008, City Telecom
City Telecom (Hong Kong)
City Telecom Limited was established in 1992. It is a provider of residential and corporate fixed network and international telecommunications services in Hong Kong, currently the second largest provider of broadband internet in the country...
chairman Ricky Wong Wai Kay was assigned as new the chief executive. While former PCCW
PCCW
PCCW Limited is the holding company of HKT Group Holdings Limited, Hong Kong's premier telecommunications provider in the Information and Communications Technologies industry. PCCW also holds a majority interest in Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited...
deputy chairman Linus Cheung Wing-lam
Linus Cheung
Linus Cheung Wing Lam, JP was the chairman of Asia Television Limited in Hong Kong. He was the deputy chairman of PCCW Limited, the chief executive of Hong Kong Telecom, the executive director of Cable & Wireless plc in the United Kingdom, and deputy managing director of Cathay Pacific Airways...
becomes executive chairman. After just 2 weeks Ricky Wong resigned from his position due to many factors. In early 2009, Taiwanese
Taiwanese people
Taiwanese people may refer to individuals who either claim or are imputed cultural identity focused on the island of Taiwan and/or Taiwan Area which have been governed by the Republic of China since 1945...
billionaire Tsai Eng-meng (蔡衍明) signed a preliminary agreement to become a key shareholder of Alnery, a company that controls 47.58% of ATV. Tsai has agreed to inject HK$1 billion in the form of convertible bonds. Tsai and Payson Cha have since debated over control of the station.
Location
In July 2007, ATV left its long-time home at 81 Broadcast DriveBroadcast Drive
Broadcast Drive is a road in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. The road is notable as it is only 1 km long but having played host to all five broadcasting outlets in Hong Kong at one point in the 1970s, and the hill on which the road is located was known in Chinese as Ng Toi Shan during that time...
in Kowloon Tong
Kowloon Tong
Kowloon Tong , formerly Kau Lung Tong, is an area in Hong Kong. Within New Kowloon, it is administratively divided by Kowloon City District and Sham Shui Po District...
and moved into a new facility in Tai Po
Tai Po
Tai Po is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong. It refers to the vicinity of the traditional market towns in the area presently known as Tai Po Old Market or Tai Po Kau Hui and the Tai Wo Town on the other side of the Lam Tsuen River, near the old Tai Po Market Station of the...
. The original home was demolished in 2008-2009 and is now a residential development.
The Tai Po production facilities cover 550000 square feet (51,096.7 m²) and is three times larger than the old facilities on Broadcast Drive. The Tai Po facilities have four news studios, eight variety show and drama studios and a range of digital broadcasting facilities. The largest studio covers 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²).
The new HQ is the former site of the Lee Kum Kee
Lee Kum Kee
Lee Kum Kee International Holdings Ltd. is a food company which specialized in manufacturing oyster flavored sauce and a wide range of authentic Chinese and Asian sauces founded by Lee Kum Sheung in 1888 in Nanshui, a small town in Guangdong. Its primary brand, Lee Kum Kee is well known throughout...
's Hong Kong headquarters and factory operations in Hong Kong.
News operation
ATV News is the news gathering arm of ATV. It produces daily newscasts in Cantonese, Mandarin
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
, and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, which are seen on its Home, World, and News & Business Channels. Additional foreign news coverage is provided by CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. The station has long been recognized as pro-Beijing.
Programming
ATV broadcasts a range of television programmes, including newsNews
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
, infotainment
Infotainment
Infotainment is "information-based media content or programming that also includes entertainment content in an effort to enhance popularity with audiences and consumers." It is a neologistic portmanteau of information and entertainment, referring to a type of media which provides a combination of...
, drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, and variety shows. In addition to producing its own shows, ATV has acquired popular TV programmes from overseas markets to cater to changing audience tastes. Of note, ATV has bought in popular TV dramas from South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
for broadcast in prime time.
Programmes on ATV Home
ATV has produced numerous classic TV dramas, including Crocodile Tears (鱷魚淚), Fatherland (大地恩情), "The Legend", The Legendary Fok (霍元甲), Central Affairs I and II (情陷夜中環), and Reincarnated (天蠶變). Recent productions of note include The Pride Of Chao Zhou (我來自潮州), Who is the Winner? (勝者為王), Who is the Winner?! 2: King of Green Bat, King Of The Gambler (千王之王重出江湖), and The Good Old Days (再見艷陽天).In recent years, ATV has created and hosted certain large-scale award shows. The most well-known would probably be The Annual Most Popular TV Commercial Awards (十大電視廣告頒獎禮).
Other infotainment programmes like Stories From Afar (尋找他鄉的故事) ranked highly in the Appreciation Index Survey Best Television Awards (香港電視節目欣賞指數), as reflected by a public review.
Some ATV programmes, such as the entertainment news show Hong Kong Today (今日睇真D) and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (百萬富翁), have proved particularly popular, prompting local rival TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
to offer similar fare.
Asia Television used to air the British Science Fiction Programme Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
and were responsible for returning one of their copies to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, when BBC Enterprises wiped many Doctor Who serials in the 1970s. The Tomb of the Cybermen
The Tomb of the Cybermen
The Tomb of the Cybermen is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that originally aired in four weekly parts from September 2 to September 23, 1967 and is the earliest serial starring Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor to exist in its entirety...
returned in late 1991.
Drama series
A list of drama series produced by ATV:- 1991: The Kung Fu King (功夫之王)
- 1993: Shanghai Godfather II (再見黃埔灘 II 之再起風雲)
- 1994: Bays Of Being Parents (可憐天下父母心)
- 1994: The Kung Fu King II (功夫之王 II 猛龍過江)
- 1994: Beauty Pageant (ATV) (鳳凰傳説)
- 1994: Secret Battle Of The Majesty (君臨天下)
- 1994: Outlaw Hero (法外英雄)
- 1995: Vampire Expert (殭屍道長)
- 1995: Pao Qingtian (a.k.a. Judge Bao) (包青天之公正廉明)
- 1995: Fist of Fury (精武門)
- 1996: The Little Vagrant Lady (飃零燕)
- 1996: The Kung Fu King III (功夫之王 III 十大天王)
- 1996: King Of Gamblers (千王之王重出江湖)
- 1996: Vampire Expert II (殭屍道長II)
- 1996: Tales From The Dorms (坊間故事之甘戴綠頭巾)
- 1996: The Little Vagrant Lady II (飃零燕 II 之孤星淚)
- 1997: Year Of Chameleon (97 變色龍)
- 1997: Coincidentally (等著你回來)
- 1997: Pride Of Chaozhou (我來自潮州)
- 1997: Gold Rush (著數一族)
- 1998: Thou Shalt Not Cheat (呆佬賀壽)
- 1998: The Heroine of the YangsThe Heroine of the YangsThe Heroine of the Yangs is an ATV series aired in Hong Kong in 1998.-Story:The story is about the Yang warriors going to wars and the power struggle between two countries Song and the Liu...
(穆桂英大破天門陣) - 1998: Heroine Of The Yangs II (穆桂英 II 十二寡婦征西)
- 1998: I Come From Guangzhou (我來自廣州)
- 1998: My Date with a VampireMy Date with a VampireMy Date with a Vampire is a 1998 Hong Kong television series produced by ATV. It was followed by My Date with a Vampire II and My Date with a Vampire III . The drama starred Eric Wan and Joey Meng in the leading roles. The plot is based on future events of the story in Vampire Expert, a similar...
(我和殭屍有個約會) - 1999: Ten Tigers of CantonTen Tigers of CantonThe Ten Tigers of Canton or Ten Tigers of Guangdong refer to a group of ten Chinese martial artists from Guangdong , China, who lived during the late Qing Dynasty . They were said to be the best fighters in southern China at that time...
(廣東十虎) co-produced with the Sanlih Network from Taiwan - 1999: Flaming Brothers (縱橫四海)
- 1999: The Heroine Of The Yangs III (穆桂英 III)
- 2000: My Date with a Vampire 2My Date with a VampireMy Date with a Vampire is a 1998 Hong Kong television series produced by ATV. It was followed by My Date with a Vampire II and My Date with a Vampire III . The drama starred Eric Wan and Joey Meng in the leading roles. The plot is based on future events of the story in Vampire Expert, a similar...
(我和殭屍有個約會II) - 2000: Showbiz Tycoon (影城大亨)
- 2001: To Where He Belongs
- 2001: Healing Hearts (俠骨仁心)
- 2002: Mission In Trouble (雄心密令)
- 2004: Asian Heroes (亞洲英雄)
- 2004: My Date with a Vampire 3 - the Eternal LegendMy Date with a VampireMy Date with a Vampire is a 1998 Hong Kong television series produced by ATV. It was followed by My Date with a Vampire II and My Date with a Vampire III . The drama starred Eric Wan and Joey Meng in the leading roles. The plot is based on future events of the story in Vampire Expert, a similar...
(我和殭屍有個約會III之永恆國度) - 2005: Central AffairsCentral AffairsCentral Affairs is a famous TV series produced by Hong Kong's Asia Television Limited in 2005 about insurance business.It had a spin-off TV series Central Affairs 2 about the real estate business. The plots of the series were all about some people tried to get benefit by immoral ways, and gets...
(情陷夜中環) - 2006: Central Affairs 2 (情陷夜中環 2)
- 2006: Walled VillageWalled villageA walled village is a type of large traditional multi-family communal living structure found in China, that is designed to be easily defensible. It is completely surrounded by thick defensive walls, protecting the residents from the attack of wild animals and enemies. Usually, people living in the...
(大城小故事) - 2006: Relentless Justice (AKA No Turning Back) (義無反顧)
- 2006: Fox Volant of the Snowy MountainFox Volant of the Snowy Mountain (2006 TV series)Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain is a 2006 Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novels Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain and Other Tales of the Flying Fox...
(雪山飛狐) - 2008: Flaming ButterflyFlaming butterflyFlaming Butterfly was a drama series produced by Hong Kong broadcaster Asia Television. It was the first series to be filmed in High Definition by ATV. The series consisted of 40 1-hour episodes, but 21 of them were re-edited into 90-minute episodes, making it the second "Drama90" series to be...
(火蝴蝶) - 2010: The Men of Justice (法網群英)
- 2010: Who's the Hero (勝者為王)
- 2010: Hong Kong Go Go Go (香港GoGoGo)
Programmes on ATV World
ATV World is one of two English-language channels that broadcast in Hong Kong. It offers a variety of programmes, mostly from the United States, ranging from popular serial dramas and films to documentaries and educational shows. Among the shows it has aired are Ally McBealAlly McBeal
Ally McBeal is an American legal comedy-drama series which aired on the Fox network from 1997 to 2002. The series was created by David E. Kelley, who also served as the executive producer, along with Bill D'Elia...
(甜心俏佳人), Survivor
Survivor (U.S. TV series)
Survivor is an American version of the Survivor reality television game show, itself derived from the Swedish television series Expedition Robinson originally created in 1997 by Charlie Parsons. The series premiered on May 31, 2000 on CBS...
(生還者), Smallville
Smallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
(超人前傳), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
(滅罪鑑證科), Elizabeth I (伊利沙伯一世傳奇), CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
(鑑證行動組), Cold Case (鐵證懸案), CSI: NY
CSI: NY
CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes...
(鑑證紐約), Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
(醫人當自強), The Closer
The Closer
The Closer is an American crime drama, starring Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a Georgia police detective who often closes her cases using sometimes-questionable methods...
(真相追擊), Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
(異世奇人), and Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts...
(靈感應). ATV stopped carrying the talk show Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
(大衛牙擦騷) , but there has been a grass-roots movement to bring it back. Arts and sports programming are also offered (e.g. local horse racing
Hong Kong Jockey Club
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is one of the oldest institutions in Hong Kong, founded in 1884 to promote horse racing. It was granted Royal Charter and renamed to "The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club" in 1959...
, in Chinese 賽馬直擊). Mandarin and Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
programmes are available on ATV World at off-peak hours.
ATV World's flagship English news programme is Main News and Weather Report at 7:30, provided under the collective effort of ATV News
ATV News
ATV News is the newsgathering arm of ATV in Hong Kong. It provides news programmes to both its ATV Home and ATV World.On April 11 2011, ATV News unveiled its new title sequence, which was turned out to be a copy of a personal conception of BBC News title sequence published by on YouTube...
.
Given its focus on English-language programming in a predominantly Cantonese-speaking market, ATV World carries relatively little advertising and is subsidised by ATV Home. Both free-to-air television companies in Hong Kong are required by the government to provide an English-language service. In the face of competition from TVB Pearl
TVB Pearl
TVB Pearl is one of the two free television services in Hong Kong that mainly broadcast in the English language, the other being ATV World. It is owned and operated by Television Broadcasts Limited, and together with its sister Cantonese language station TVB Jade, is broadcast from TVB City at 77...
, ATV World has, in recent years, switched focus from dramas and movies to documentaries and natural history shows, likely because such programming is less expensive to acquire. Although movies formerly aired on Saturdays, movies acquired by ATV are generally aired on Monday nights, leading to the Late News programme .
Rediffusion era
- 1971-1972: 8 to 9 on Rediffusion, Great drama every night (麗的八至九，好戲日日有)
- 1972: Today's Rediffusion, Your Rediffusion (今日既麗的，你既麗的)
- 1972: Great programmes on Rediffusion everyday, no need to read the Tung shingTung shingThe Tung Shing is a Chinese divination guide and almanac. It consists primarily of a calendar based on the Chinese lunar year.-History:...
(麗的節目日日精，駛乜睇通勝) - 1973-1974: So many great programmes on Rediffusion, Why change the channel? (麗的咁好睇，何必再『手禁』掣)
- 1974-1976: 8 to 9 on Rediffusion, a new wave of wuxiaWuxiaWuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
(麗的八至九，武俠新潮流) - 1977: Raising a thousand sails, showing our colours (千帆並舉展繽紛)
- 1977: Watch Rediffusion tonight, tomorrow night, and every other night (今晚、明晚、晚晚睇麗的)
Asia Television era
- 24 September 1982: Living your kind of life
- 1985: Turn on to ATV
- 1987: Gold and Diamond shining upon Hong Kong: ATV shows its brilliance (黃金鑽石耀香港、亞洲電視顯光芒)
- 1988: Perseverance (奮鬥)
- August 1993- Cooperate and fight for creativity, March shows its brilliance (協力爭創意 三月顯光芒)
- 1993: With vigor, striving for perfection (憑幹勁 精益求精)
- 1996: Embrace every moment (擁抱每一刻)
- 1998: A newer than new ATV, a newer than new choice (新新ATV，新新的選擇)
- End of 2001-Early 2002: Using our hearts to enter the new year (用心邁向新一年)
- 2003: Dare to think, dare to create, a hundred flowers will open (敢想敢創,百花齊放)
- 2004: Creativity, Power: Asia Television (創新.動力.亞洲電視)
- 2004: 2004: the tide is on Asia's side (2004勢在亞洲)
- 2005: Strive for creativity, choose Asia (追求創意 選擇亞洲)
- November 2005-February 2006: The real power is at Asia (真的力量就在亞洲)
- February–October 2006: Original creation: a new shining point (原創．新亮點)
- October–December 2006: Asia Television, I support you (亞視．我撐你)
- January–September 2007: It's all because of you (全因你而起)
aTV era
- September–October 2007: A new logo, a new power, a new atmosphere (新台徽，新力量，新氣象)
- October–December 2007: aTV can be watched like this (可以咁睇aTV)
- January–March 2008: I can decide, the choice is boundless (由我作主，選擇無極限)
- January–March 2008: aTV Digital Television, The choice is boundless ( aTV數碼電視，選擇無極限)
- March–April 2008: The restless life, aTV (生生不息，aTV)
- April–May 2008: The Spring flares, stronger as it goes (春日花火 愈戰愈強)
- May–August 2008: Rally for China, cheer for heroes (為中國加油 為英雄喝采)
- August 2008-May 2009: The charismatic Asia (魅力亞洲)
- December 2008-March 2009: aBot fervently supports Hong Kong (aBot熱撐香港)
- March–May 2009: An exciting evolution: a new digital order for aTV (精彩進化 aTV數碼新秩序)
- May 2009–Present: Dare to dream, moving forward with happiness (敢於夢想 開心向前)
- 2011-Present: Conscience . Fashion (良心‧時尚)
ATV Training Institute
Asia Television Training Institute was founded to train people who are interested in joining the television industry. There are four faculties including television production, television artwork, television talent and technical production. Some of the graduates are offered work at ATV.Licence
ATV recently had its licence renewed for another 12 years. Under the terms of the licence renewal, the Broadcasting Authority required that ATV World provide bilingual subtitles on news, weather and current affairs shows, educational shows, and emergency announcements, beginning in December 2004. The company was also required to provide more cultural and arts shows.Major competitor
Not counting pay television channels, ATV's major competitor is Television Broadcasts LimitedTelevision Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
, the other terrestrial television station in Hong Kong. TVB is regarded as the driving force behind ATV's decision to transform its Pay TV operation to terrestrial TV broadcasting.
For many years, TVB has been the predominant ratings leader in Hong Kong, its programmes often capturing 90-95% of viewing audience. In the Pearl River Delta
Pearl River Delta
The Pearl River Delta , Zhujiang Delta or Zhusanjiao in Guangdong province, People's Republic of China is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea...
area of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, ATV used to enjoy a 70% ratings share in the late 90s, largely due to rebroadcasting rights. The ratings share has since reduced to 2-3%.
Actor crossovers
TVB is known to typecast their performers, with some always given lead roles and others always given supporting roles. As such, certain actors have left TVB for ATV in hopes of better opportunities, although in most cases the crossover will mean a virtual end of an actor's career. The majority of the leading roles are actually given to veteran TVB actors. While some veteran TVB actors merely switch sides because their contract ended, some joined because they're offered better compensation and positions to veteran TVB actors. There were several known incidents where TVB had certain dramas planned and were forced to cancel or rewrite scripts because the star(s) of the role left for other opportunities and vice versa. While TVB also acquired ATV actors, the cross over is higher in frequency with TVB actors to ATV.Current ATV personalities
- Paw Hee Ching
- Jaclyn Chu
- Pinky Cheung
- Gilbert LamGilbert LamGilbert Lam Wai San is a former Hong Kong TVB and ATV actor,http://www.spcnet.tv/Gilbert-Lam-Wai-Sun-ac34.html most famous for his role in To Catch the Uncatchable , which sent the insurance industry into uproar.-Filmography:-References:...
- Jin LingJin LingJin Ling is a Russian brand of cigarettes produced by Kaliningrad-based manufacturer Baltic Tobacco Company . The name is derived from Jinling, the older name of Nanjing, where the brand was originally developed by the Chinese state-owned Nanjing Tobacco Factory...
- Teresa Mak Ka-ki
- Judy Tsang
- Derek To
- Calzone Woo
- Karen Chan
- William Chow
- Lo Hoi PangLo Hoi PangLo Hoi-pang is a Hong Kong actor for both TVB and ATV, and a singer. Lo attended TVB's Training Classes in 1973. Among his classmates are Chow Yun-fat and Ng Man-tat.-Filmography:*The Legend of the Book and the Sword...
- formerly TVB - Joyce Chen - formerly TVB
- Cynthia Ho
- Choi Kwok WaiChoi Kwok WaiChoi Kwok-wai, also known as Frankie Choi, is a Hong Kong ATV actor, most notable for his role as Bill in the film Moments of Love.-External links:*...
- Celadore Ching
- Lulu Ng
- Nic Yan
- Kitty Wang
- Law Shek Yin
- Daryna Shevchenko
- Jerry Leung
- Wong Oi Yiu
- Alvanto Wu
- Chun Kai Wai
- Faye Tung
- Karen Chan
- Alakazar Zhu
- Lam Wai - formerly TVB
- Baby Bo
- SHINTO Wang
- Billy Lau Nam Kwing - formerly TVB
- Bonnie Wong
- Idea Ng
- Huang Li Mei
- Wintelda Li
- Amiko Wong
- Tsang Wai Ming
- Jessica Lee
- Philip Keung
- JoJo Poon
- Cheng Shu Fung
- Kung To
- Kwan Wai Lun
- Jesus Song
- Fiona YuenFiona YuenFiona Yuen was born in 20 January 1976 in Cologne, Germany.She went to Hong Kong and took part in the 1996 Miss Hong Kong Pageant, where she was second runner-up and won the Miss International Goodwill award. She can speak German, French, English and Cantonese fluently...
- formerly TVB - Winnie Shum - formerly TVB
- Angel Ho - formerly TVB
- Amy Fan - formerly TVB
- Michael TongMichael TongMichael Tong Man Lung is a Hong Kong actor.-TV series:*Return of the Cuckoo *In a Realm of Success...
- formerly TVB - Rain Li - formerly TVB
Past ATV personalities
- Kenneth ChanKenneth ChanKenneth Chan Kai-tai is a Hong Kong actor and television host for the Hong Kong-based Cable TV Hong Kong channel ....
- formerly TVB, now working for Cable TV - Hawick LauHawick LauHawick Lau Hoi-wai is a Hong Kong actor and singer, most famous for his performances in the TVB series A Kindred Spirit, Virtues of Harmony and its sequel Virtues of Harmony II, and My Family....
- former TVB artist; 1 year contract at ATV during 2006; Freelance now - Felius Pang - no longer acting
- Damian LauDamian LauDamian Lau Chung-yan is a Hong Kong film and television actor, executive producer and film director. Lau has starred in many television drama series of various genres, produced by Hong Kong's TVB and ATV.-Early career:...
1981-1987, Freelance now - Saladin Chen 1991-1998
- Valerie ChowValerie ChowValerie Chow, aka Rachel Shane in the US, is a Hong Kong actress.She has starred in numerous films and several television series, most memorably in Wong Kar-wai's internationally acclaimed 1994 feature, Chungking Express, which earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 14th Hong...
- Formerly of TVB - no longer an actress - Quener Wu - 1984-1988, retired
- Eddy KoEddy KoEddy Ko Hung is a Hong Kong television and film actor who has worked on the TV stations RTV , TVB and ATV. His birthname is Ho Yiu Sum . He adopted the name Ko Hung as a stage name...
1990-2000; has returned to TVB - Michael TaoMichael Tao-Career:Tao entered the acting industry in the 80s, affiliating with TVB. It was during this period that Tao earned the name "Housewife Killer" due to his overwhelming popularity amongst housewives , solidifying his position as a 1st tier television actor in TVB.Tao later moved over to rival ATV in...
- 1999-2004; has returned to TVB - Wayne LaiWayne LaiWayne Lai Yiu-cheung is a Hong Kong TVB actor.-Biography:Lai entered TVB in 1983 as a clerk in the business department. In 1985, he gave up the job and trained in the TVB Acting School. He starred in a few series in 1989. He started out in some minor roles, and took on some more significant roles...
- Fang Fong - 1998-1999
- Gallen LoGallen LoGallen Lo Ka-leung is a Hong Kong actor and singer who primarily acts in television series. He is sometimes credited as King Gallen or Law Ka-leung.-Career:...
- 1983-1984; now at TVB - Patricia LiuPatricia LiuPatricia Joma was a finalist of Miss Hong Kong 1997 without winning any award, and joined TVB afterwards. She first received wide attention as host of The Rhino Club, and she is amongst the last to host TVB's K-100. Her TV dramas include War and Beauty and When Rules Turn Loose .Patricia joined...
- formerly from TVB, no longer acting - Annie ManAnnie ManAnnie Man Chung-Han , born 20 July 1976, is an actress from Hong Kong. She started her career in television series in 1993 at the age of 16 at ATV...
- 1993-1999; Freelance now - Michelle YeMichelle YeMichelle Ye Xuan is a Hong Kong actress. In 1999, she won the Miss Chinese International competition. Ye then signed a contract with TVB from 1999-2005. After she left TVB, She signed with Rich & Famous Talent Management Group Limited to pursue a movie career.Ye is fluent in Cantonese, English,...
2005-?; Freelance now - Giovanni Chu
- Thomas Lam
- Claire YiuClaire YiuClaire Yiu , born on 10 August 1978, is a Hong Kong actress. She started her acting career after being the 2nd runner-up in the Miss Asia Pageant in 1998. After filming some ATV series, such as 海瑞鬥嚴嵩, and Ten Tigers of Guangdong , she went over to TVB and filmed in some minor roles such as 趙美美 in...
1998-2001; now at TVB - Lydia SumLydia ShumLydia Shum Din-Ha, also known as Lydia Sum , was a Hong Kong comedienne, MC, and actress known for her portly figure, signature dark rimmed glasses and bouffant hairstyle. She was affectionately known to peers and fans as Fei-fei...
1990s; returned to TVB; deceased - Van Der Slogan 1988-1999; retired
- Sheren TangSheren TangSheren Tang Shui-man is a famous Hong Kong television actress who is known for not signing a long-term contract with TVB, preferring to work on a per-drama contract with the TV station. She is most famous for her roles in the mega-hit TVB drama series like War and Beauty, La Femme Desperado, The...
1995-1996; has returned to TVB
Falling figures
In recent years, viewing figures for ATV Home have fallen sharply, as the TV station has begun to cater more to the interests of the mainland Chinese audience, who can now legally receive the channel. Some Hong Kong viewers have complained that programmes aired on ATV Home are "old-fashioned" and not in tune with the preferences of the Hong Kong TV audience.Controversy and bias
News programmes broadcast by ATV are deemed by some observers to have taken on a pro-Beijing bias, reporting news involving pro-democracy political forces in Hong Kong in a negative light. (A short talk show on current affairs that airs after the six o'clock news frequently invites pro-Beijing advocates to air their views, often praising the PRC's policies and criticising pro-democratic parties, especially when these parties invoke a demonstration. There have since been other pro-democratic guests, but this does not balance out the pro-Beijing bias). TVB's news programming has been similarly criticised for its "pro-establishment" stance. Although the Hong Kong media has freedom of speechFreedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
, self-censorship
Self-censorship
Self-censorship is the act of censoring or classifying one's own work , out of fear of, or deference to, the sensibilities of others, without overt pressure from any specific party or institution of authority...
is commonly practised at media organisations whose owners have business interests in mainland China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. A shift in ownership of ATV in mid-2006 sparked concern that ATV would become even more pro-Beijing.
For example, the pro-democracy 1 July marches usually makes the headline news on TVB, but ATV usually makes the pro-Beijing counter protests the headline news. ATV also attempts to dilute the pro-democracy message of the marches by saying the participants have different messages.
The view that aTV has taken a pro-Beijing bias has largely shifted towards TVB by 2009. aTV had broadcast the 20th Anniversary 4 June gathering as part of their main news, even using footage of the people's movement in 1989, which was highly praised by internet users; by contrast, TVB merely dabbed the issue, and this seems to have taken on self-censoring, drawing criticism from netizens and forum users, mocking and jeering that TVB had become "CCTVB
China Central Television
China Central Television or Chinese Central Television, commonly abbreviated as CCTV, is the major state television broadcaster in mainland China. CCTV has a network of 19 channels broadcasting different programmes and is accessible to more than one billion viewers...
".
See also
- Media of Hong KongMedia of Hong KongMedia in Hong Kong are available to the public in the forms of: television and radio, newspapers, magazines and the Internet. They serve the local community by providing necessary information and entertainment.-Overview:...
- List of companies of Hong Kong
- Television Broadcasts LimitedTelevision Broadcasts LimitedTelevision Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
- rival broadcaster