HKTV to Air “The Election” and “The Borderline” on November 19
Hong Kong startup station, HKTV, will officially broadcast two new dramas on November 19. HKTV will be launching their online streaming app available for download on smart phones, tablets, and smart TVs to allow viewers to enjoy their television dramas.
Since 2012, HKTV has recruited ex-TVB employees to film for the new station. Failing to secure the government’s free-to-air television broadcasting license, HKTV opted to broadcast their shows online instead.
HKTV’s on-demand broadcasting model has the advantage of flexibility to cater to local viewers. Despite Hong Kong’s population of seven million people, TVB and ATV only regularly capture under two million viewers, leaving more than five million viewers as potential target audiences for HKTV.
Liu Kai Chi and Dominic Lam Dominate HKTV Dramas
To determine which dramas would be aired first, Ricky released trailer clips of 17 drama productions and allowed the public to vote for their choices. Starring Liu Kai Chi (廖啟智) and Angelica Lee (李心潔), The Election <選戰> won with 50 percent of votes or 101,250 votes. Reflecting on Hong Kong’s current political state, Angelica stars as a politician whose goal is to help the underprivileged. She ultimately runs for the 2022 Chief Executive elections. On the opposing bench is Sun Man San (Liu Kai Chi), a character that is reportedly based upon Hong Kong’s current Chief Executive, Leung Chun Ying (梁振英).
Kai Chi’s second drama, The Borderline <警界線>, came in second place with 36,587 votes. The initial clips of episode one of the police drama on YouTube garnered excellent reception and was praised for its high quality production standards.
Although Kai Chi and Dominic Lam (林嘉華) are esteemed veterans, they did not fit the bill of the typical TVB leading actor. At HKTV, Kai Chi leads in both of HKTV’s premiering dramas while Dominic stars in The Borderline and leads in two other series, including Karma <驚異世紀> and Night Shift <夜班>.
Taiwanese star Danson Tang‘s (唐禹哲) vampire series, Lost in Time <還來得及再愛你> came in third place.
On November 19, HKTV Chairman Ricky Wong (王維基) and the cast of The Borderline and The Election will be present at the J.W. Marriott Hotel for the official opening ceremonies.
TVB’s Retaliation
Not willing to lose viewership ratings to HKTV, TVB scheduled Myolie Wu (胡杏兒) and Ron Ng’s (吳卓羲) period comedy, Lady Sour <醋娘子> to air after the run of Anniversary series, Come On, Cousin <老表，你好hea!>.
TVB plans to push Lord of Shanghai <梟雄> and Charmaine Sheh’s (佘詩曼) Empress <呂后> as next year’s grand productions. Besides the typical family feudal dramas, TVB lineup for next year includes family-friendly comedies such as Eunuch Departure <公公出宮> – a sequel to The Confidant <大太監>, and Bobby Au Yeung’s (歐陽震華) With or Without You <東坡家事>.
“The Election” Trailer
[vsw id=”0tvh0hHzZEk” source=”youtube” width=”500″ height=”375″ autoplay=”no”]
“The Borderline” Trailer
[vsw id=”Jhm_0238JUA” source=”youtube” width=”500″ height=”375″ autoplay=”no”]
“Lost in Time” Trailer
[vsw id=”SpD9GfNOcqY” source=”youtube” width=”500″ height=”375″ autoplay=”no”]
Source: Ming Pao
This article is written by Su for JayneStars.com.
finally tvb has a competition.
Cant wait
Jayne,
You embedded the wrong youtube link for Election. You embedded a promo for their station instead.
based,
Correct trailer has been added.
Jayne didn’t they show The Borderline like 3 times with different names?
And Jayne isn’t “lost in time” a hong kong version of twilight alot of things seem so similar.
I can’t wait either but i’m from the US so will i be able to stream?
it doesn’t matter what drama TVB broadcast, it’s still going to be a failure.
You’ll be able to stream if you have a VPN with a HK IP. There are links to the HKTV live stream on twitter but expect a ton of lag if you’re streaming with a non HK IP (I tried already).
Thanks for your response. I don’t have HK IP and don’t have twitter account. is that mean i can’t stream? hope they will upload on youtube.
You’ll probably be able to stream legally via their site in the future if they don’t announce a TV deal for other countries like they did with SE Asia and Mainland China. There’s popular streaming/direct download for Asian dramas out there but I don’t think jayne would like it if I promoted pirating on here.
This video shows you how to watch HKTV outside Hong Kong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Tpb1iHiT8
This is their website to watch HKTV show on your computer
http://prelaunch.hktvmall.com/#main
try hola.org. I use it to watch UK tv shows on the bbc from the US and it works fine for me. I imagine it will work just as well for HK stuff too.
Totally free, just download the chrome plug in and change to whatever country you want. really easy to set up and operate.
i tried Hola during their beta testing period and it didn’t work with HKTV.
They do not look bad! Having more choices is always better.
Nooooooooooooooooooooo. Now TVB is going to lose
:'(
Lol, I don’t think it’s a win or lose situation. Hong Kong only has one main entertainment station , and that’s tvb..isn’t it better for everyone that there be more than one main station? I think competiton will be good for both, it means that they quality of their work will improve (at least we all hope…) and people would have more choices when tuning into entertainment. If either stations want to win more viewers, well then quite frankly they should know they need to put more effort into their work. I
Looks like tbb needs to get their act together, because really, their sales presentation was a big fat disappointment. If their trailers and promo were that poor, how can expect viewers to anticipate for the real deal when the series goes to air? …
Competition is good, except TVB doesn’t know how to compete.
Boooooo! This drama is definitely going to suck. 2 thumbs down. All so called Hktv drama trailers boring
Where can I watch these hktv dramas, so bored of tvb already
Jayne – the English name for Danson Tang`s series is “Love In Time” and the name for the horror flick starring Dominic Lam (the Amazing Century one) is “Karma”…do you mind updating the article? Now that the official English titles of the series are known, it`s probably better to use the proper titles.
llwy12,
Revised the titles of the dramas; thanks for the info.
TVB may make a vampire drama next year with Kevin and Kay. Is that how TVB retaliates? Let’s just make every drama like them…
They’re also ripping off that sex series from HKTV, I think it’s called ‘Sexpedia’. TVB’s making a version with Sharon Chan, Eddie Cheung etc.
TVB = Copy, Copy, Copy. Has pretty run out of new ideas.
*Meant to say pretty “much” run out of new ideas.
The demise of TVB begins.
the 1st episode of the borderline is better than everything tvb has done in past 5 years
The political one seems decent, the cops one seems boring, bad and not that interesting >_> the vampire one seems to teenager, melodramatic, a bit like bad korean drama >_> idk but the vampire one just scream bad lol. So 2/3 are bad, don’t think I’ll like hktv series >_>
Finally, someone is making a series about contemporary Hong Kong politics. Hope that viewers in the US will be able to watch some of these.
i hope i can watch it here in Australia
You will. It has already been announced that HKTV will be collaborating with Astro to bring their programs to Malaysia, South Asia, and also Australia (those in Malaysia will get to watch starting 11/18…one day before official launch).
Mainland China audiences will get to watch via Tencent (that collaboration has been announced already as well).
No news about other countries yet, unfortunately (nothing official at least).
Oh, sorry…New Zealand was also part of the list of countries for Astro….
cool thanks!
Oh….I hope we get to watch here in North America. 😐
Thanks for the info, llwy12. 🙂
Yeah! I hope that i can watch it in australia!!!!! And finally TVb is having a competition against HKTV!!!!
How many episodes will it air per week? One episode?
2 episodes per day
wow 2 eps per day
Both series looks great and different than TVB
I’ve submitted a request to Uno Telly requesting them to include HKTV as part of their DNS switching service.
Uno Telly subscribers please submit your request to Uno Telly. They will unlock new channel base on the popularity of the channel.
http://help.unotelly.com/support/tickets/100091
🙂 Yes.. Malaysia is having it live on TV (astro) look forward to it 🙂
Finally. I cannot wait. No more fake background, fake props, hollow floors, bad acting, weak story lines, repetitive story lines, predictable storylines, etc etc etc. I finally get to have OPTIONS.
Very kdrama
How so? there’s no romance series posted.
Yay, The Election won! That was the most interesting series especially with the current political situation. Not so keen on Love in Time though.
Btw, I made a new site just for HKTV series http://casualhktv.blogspot.com
these dramas look so pretentious…
shows can really look good when its not all shot in a studio with fake walls and fake windows, and u look out the window and its a fake picture…everything with tvb looks too fake, its old, its 2014 man LOL
cant wait for more hktv, these are their first few series and they already look so good, hope they can improve even more
People seem to forget a few things.
1) HKTV is heavily in debt and making losses due to the fact, they jumped the gun in heavily promoting their production, film series and headhunting TVB and ATV artists at inflated fees.
This arrogant attitude even before the approval of their applications led to their current situation.
2) They have no steady sources of revenue to fund future productions. How are they going to afford funding ambitious projects in order to compete with TVB?
It’s stupidity when people talk about HKTV challenging TVB when they can’t even be broadcasted on TV.
– “HKTV is heavily in debt and making losses due to the fact, they jumped the gun in heavily promoting their production, film series and headhunting TVB and ATV artists at inflated fees.”
What major business venture does not incur debt in the beginning?
2.”They have no steady sources of revenue to fund future productions. How are they going to afford funding ambitious projects in order to compete with TVB?”
Hmm, I wonder what those partnerships with Astro, Tencent, and over 100 brands to sell products and services on their shopping channel mean. Furthermore, they charge the SAME AD fees as TVB ($500,000HKD per ad), and advertisers are piling on.
Ricky Wong’s got deep pockets. You don’t need to worry about his financial issues.
“It’s stupidity when people talk about HKTV challenging TVB when they can’t even be broadcasted on TV.”
You think that just because a network can’t broadcast on TV therefore they can’t succeed? Ever heard of Netflix? Lol
I’ve seen your posts around here a few times. Your views are so distorted and ignorant that it makes me laugh. We know you love your TVB, bud! but just try a little to be more impartial. 🙂
Let’s face it! Conventional TV is a DYING platform, that’s why networks like HBO is moving entirely online and businesses like Netflix is flourishing. Cable networks are scared of Netflix and their potential. That’s the same way I see HKTV, not in the same scale, but they are a innovative company. Those who don’t strive to innovate and change will die (TVB). Judging the way TVB runs their business these days (afraid to change, only know how to follow). They won’t be of much significance 20 years from now.
*Claps*
You can watch it on Astro, Channel 324 beginning Nov 18
Just watched ‘Borderline Ep. 1’ on Astro channel 307 last night (which is better than 324 cos it’s on HD). Plot wise & acting, well, its good so far….
Err..still like TVB drama more. HKTV will never become a threat to TVB la. They are just running an online business whereas TVB is running a tv station business. No matter how good the storyline, still prefer to watch drama produced by TVB artist. Although their dramas have some ex tvb or tvb artist, but still the feeling like abit weird and not so nice. LOL.
Agreed. TVB will still be the ‘taikor’ here ….as they have a tv station at their disposal so with HKTV lacking in all compartments, I seriously doubt HKTV can mount a challenge to TVB.
Still I must say it is great if HK viewers hv more choices besides TVB……
You do realize that HKTV has been building their own tv station and are using Hollywood quality filming equipment that even HK movies aren’t using right?! If anything TVB’s the one lacking in all areas! That’s why they are copying HKTV” ideas including that vampire and sexpedia series! Except the only reason why the beaten to death vampire topic series can still garner attention is cause HKTV forked out money to get Taiwan idol actor Danson Tang as lead!
tvb shows are so poor in quality and creativity, its garbage…every set is designed by the same people, all homes, rooms, and walls all look the same…u can tell its shot inside a studio, its like american soap opera quality…when they at home or in office building u look out d window and just laugh LOL the background is so fake…the music and melody they use is all the same too for every series…actors all act and talk d same way…its really getting boring…and it shows…ratings getting worse and worse and worse as each show, month, and years go by
why are people happy about this? u need competition to improve and get better
i support hktv not becus i really like hktv that much, but becus i want tvb to be better and improve for the future
I really wish Danson Tang has acted in another series. ‘Lost in Time’ into does not seem interesting at all. Way too Twilight. Well, I hope it will be more ‘My Date With a Vampire’ than ‘Twilight’. I will watch this for Danson’s and Terence Yin’s sake.
No wonder HKTV didn’t get the license. With series like ‘The Election’, it certainly won’t be in Beijing’s good side.
Btw, Angelababy can play Angelica Lee’s daughter or younger sister. They look so alike. 🙂
TVB is going down! Can’t wait for HKTV’s dramas ^^
HKTV still a long road… their serie might be better quality, but their actors and actress consist mostly unknown only a few EX-TVB are actually seen in the drama. Will be supporting TVB.
LOL!
No actors start out as being “known”. Being known takes time, experience and achievements. Having a known actor does not make a drama series better; on the other hand, having unknown actors does not make a drama garbage either. At the end of the day it’s all about the plot, acting and cinematography. Like you said, if you’re gonna judge a drama based on whether there’s known actors, you should just stick with TVB. They have familiar actors and recycled plots that will keep you entertained for eternity.
After the novelty of HKTV wears off, viewers will get tired too. Their actors either consist of unknowns or has-beens from TVB. Their male leads are all over 50. They’re a tired looking bunch.
only people who turn on the tv and dont like to think and just watch a tv show like a zombie still likes tvb…their methods and style is growing old…its 2014, people will get older and mature and their minds will expand and what more and better things
Hopefully HKTV will produce programmes with more intellectual substance as opposed to TVBs’ Guy meets girl, they severely dislike it eachother then they like each other but are seeing other people then they break up then they eventually get together then there is a minor misunderstanding and they break up and in the final epsiode they get back together *yawn*
TVB lost it years ago! The best programmes they had were in the 90s.
just watched the 1st episode of the election…its better than anything tvb has made
it actually looks real…tvb is done
I watch ‘Borderline’ in Astro yesterday too. The scenes are indeed better, but, storytelling wise, I’ll have to watch more episodes first.
ya no more fake walls, fake doors, and fake rooms…u look out a window u actually see real things, and cars and people move by, not fake pictures lol
very good 1st episodes for all series so far, very impressed with hktv
the only thing hktv is missing now is better and more popular actors and actress and they will get them becus their work is a lot better than tvb
the quality of hktv shows appeal more to 21st century people
Just watched 1st ep of “The Election”, and it looks promising. I am however disappointed in the lighting director’s approach. Lighting for the entire episode was so poor, you could hardly see the expression of the actors. That was so distracting. Hmm, maybe it was the site I was watching on….
Maybe turn up the brightness on your monitor……
Lol, HKTV dream longer to surpass TVB. TVB has been in the industry for almost 5 decades. You think you ignorant Ricky can simply ruin the whole limited resources industry? Just look at the actor/actresses they got. Bunch of rubbish. hahaha.
Got watched tvb anniversary? All the quality actor/actress all there. So HKTV dream longer lar. Television drama especially cantanose drama, having very limited quality resources also known as actors/actresses. No matter how good your storyline, or whatever equipment, without popular/likable/quality actor/actress, it will be pointless. I just watched The election until 25minutes already bored to death. Borderline has yet to watch.And most of the tvb veteran actors that accompanying Hong Kong since few decades ago will surely know what is Loyalty.
Sadly Lyndia Sum is no longer here, or else sure scold that RICKY till he scares, wanna road protest somemore.