TVB Artists Breaking Their Own Rice Bowls?
The Hong Kong Government’s plan to issue new TV broadcasting licenses has caused a stir in Hong Kong and in recent days, the debate has gained more heat. To protect its monopoly, TVB is one of the strongest opponents over the issue. Surprisingly, several TVB artists risked their own “rice bowls” and supported greater competition amongst Hong Kong television stations.
Earlier this year, the government reportedly decided to issue new TV broadcasting licenses in February 2013 to three companies: City Telecom (CTI), PCCW and i-Cable. However, the approval has been delayed indefinitely, due to reasons quoted as the government’s red tape and procedures. Some even suspected the delay is to keep the ATV boat alive.
CTI Chairman, Ricky Wong (王維基), has been putting increasing pressure on the government to approval its license quickly. CTI gathered 188 of its staff and artists, including Felix Wong (黃日華), Maggie Cheung (張可頤) and Bernice Liu (廖碧兒), in a show of its resources. Not to be belittled, TVB Chairman, Norman Leung (梁乃鵬) countered by gathering 3,800 employees and artists for a two-day feast held yesterday and today.
TVB Actors Support Competition
TVB artists did not seem to share their company’s strong and loud opposing voice to the issuing of new TV broadcasting licenses.
At the TVB8 presentation ceremony last night, Raymond Lam (林峯) and Fala Chen (陳法拉) were asked of their views. Both agreed that everyone will benefit from friendly competition. Raymond Lam said, “I am looking from the viewers’ and the workers’ perspective. When there is friendly competition, there is a need to improve oneself because you want to maintain a standard.” He also felt that the workers would benefit because they would be able to find jobs easily, citing a recent incident where several of TVB artists as well as workers went over to CTI.
Fala felt that with competition, the television stations will push themselves to come up with better scripts and productions. She added, “I heard Ricky Wong has come up with a several good dramas. I want to watch to know what they are all about.”
Yesterday at Tsim Sha Tsui for a magazine awards ceremony, Moses Chan (陳豪) and Linda Chung (鍾嘉欣) also concurred with Raymond and Fala. Moses added, “The license issuance is based on a set of rules and regulations. These rules are set by the government and they are not something new. As long as everyone sticks to the same rules, they won’t be affected by how many licenses are issued.”
Bobby Au Yeung (歐陽震華) and Esther Kwan (關詠荷) felt that ATV will not go out of business despite greater competition, contrary to popular thought. Ben Wong (黃智賢) felt that the issuing of the licenses will not affect TVB at all. He believes that TVB will still remain the big brother in the industry.
Source: ihktv.com
This article is written by Karen for JayneStars.com.
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“Surprisingly, several TVB artists risked their own “rice bowls” and supported greater competition amongst Hong Kong television stations.”
What a silly statement. Their rice bowl will be bigger because now got more offers.
yeh right,agree.tvb management is more concern about their own rice bowls because they will lost their employees to other tv stations.
@shu
That’s not right. It’s the viewership that will be diluted, which is what they are worried about. This means less people will watch TVB, leading advertising companies to pay less to TVB.
TVB actors, presenters and staff will probably stay in TVB since they are the biggest company, there’s no reason for them to leave to start-up ones.
and what will be the cause you think the viewership would be diluted? if all the tvb actors presenters and staff will probably stay in tvb so as you say?
dd is right; the same thing happened to network TV in the US when cable became big. Viewers had more options on what to watch, and so naturally ratings became fragmented among many channels.
Now, things may change eventually once advertisers finally figure out how to measure DVR/internet viewership. But right now, it’s just live TV, and a 30 point rating for an evening episode is a lot more attractive to an advertiser than a 20 or 25.
I’m not so sure though, that the current TVB staff will all stay. There have been quite a few defections already, and if TVB staff begin to see higher wages and better working conditions elsewhere, I’m sure the threats will happen. Results may be that TVB will have to pony up more money! And maybe even pay for better scripts! Which would be fantastic.
No shu, there is no reason to move to a less watched start-up broadcast channel which will have less work benefits and lower pay.
How can they get more offers if they are still under indenture, no I mean contract with TVB.
Not immediately. But contracts don’t last forever, and if there are other HK TV stations, that means artists can eventually find their way to freedom without having to resort to hiding out in the Mainland making series there. Win-win, hopefully!
It’s voting time… it will be open to the pubic this year… they are just vote grabbing.
Healthy competition will make oneself improve. Good for us. We will have more series to watch 😛
Nothing risky here for the artistes and TVB still has Kate on their side who spoke strongly against the license.
Kate d only one? D issue involves future prospects, wat was she thinking mann!
Although I am not a HK resident (I have an HK ID), I believe that the HK government should issue the licenses. I believe that healthy competition is good for both companies. It would push the companies to come up with more engaging productions..
I also do not think that ATV would close due to the new free-to-air TV networks.
I think. ATV is close to close. And hope Wong Ching wont dance horse dance in the next protest.
I don’t dig Fala’s new boyish haircut.
that’s Fala? lol…look like a lesbo..
That’s Fala?? Goodness, I could not recognize her…
Sky- exactly how does a ‘lesbo’ look like??…
i couldn’t even tell that was fala
I couldn’t either. Fala Chen did not look pretty with this haircut.
At 1st glance thought dat was Myolie.
Eek… Fala looks downright ugly with that haircut.
huh? you sure it’s fala? better go to hair extensions asap
huh? you sure it’s fala? better go for hair extensions asap
wow, tvb biting her back already for not supporting them? gave her a lousy haircut then post this pic? enough of monopoly, eric tsang and bullying already
Of course, I’d go for more competition for better scripts, acting, productions, etc, resulting in better shows. Moreover, why should TVB have the sole monopoly, which is unfair.
that’s right, wealth should go round, not in the hands of some ppl only, moreover it’s not good for the economy, rich ppl only plc money in banks, worse still if misbehave like eason and hillary or even eric big mouth
Is that really a haircut or her ponytail combed over?
In the above pic, its clearly her pontytail that was combed over( to the front).. in other website, they showed Fala’s new haircut which is really short.
Aw, it’s not a very flattering look, unfortunately. Plus, I’m not used to seeing Fala in heavy make-up.
yeah those gothic (dark eyes shadow) makeup really doesn’t suit Fala, she looks more easy on simple makeup.
I supposed Fala is trying a new look.
i think more abt internal politic issue tht piss them off..as example some big shot like Ms Lok can cause the uprise & downfall of the artist ( i.e ron ng case),,there should be balance of power , option & creativity for all side.
ms lok should go, she toying with tvb’s future and actors as well is downright wrong, actors and all tvb staffs should boycott her, maybe she is part of the reason of tvb going downhill
More channels means more stuff to watch. Everyone not associated with TVB should be supporting it.
ewww. Fala chen’s hair …
i know
I feel bad for his boyfriend taking a mop going out.
More shows, more slots, more show categories will have more advertising opportunities for diverse or smaller firms to target niche markets. E.g. Condom ads should not air right before/after arthritis medicine ad.