TVB

This article is about a broadcaster. For other uses, see TVB (disambiguation).
Television Broadcasts Limited
電視廣播有限公司
Public
Traded as SEHK: 0511,OTC Pink: TVBCY
Industry Television broadcasting
Founded Broadcast Drive, Kowloon, Hong Kong (1967)
Headquarters 77 Chun Choi Street
Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, New Territories, Hong Kong
Key people
 Mona Fong (Executive Chairman), Norman Leung (Executive Deputy Chairman)
Products TVB Jade, TVB Pearl, TVBI, TVB Pay Vision, TVBS, TVB.com, TVB Publishing, etc.
Revenue $4.33 billion HK dollars (2007)
Number of employees
 4532 (2007)
Website www.TVB.com
TVB
Traditional Chinese 電視廣播有限公司

Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, the first wireless commercial television station in Hong Kong, TVB is now one of three free-to-air TV broadcasters in Hong Kong and one of the largest commercial Chinese programme producers in the world. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967.[1] With a staff of about 4,500, it is one of three free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, with the other two being Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and Asia Television (ATV).[2]

When TVB first began broadcasting, to distinguish it from the cable television broadcaster, Rediffusion Television, it was commonly known as "Wireless Television" (無綫電視 Cantonese: mo4 sin3 din6 si6) in Chinese. It is still usually referred to with that name, although there is more than one terrestrial television station now. The company's previous chairman was Sir Run Run Shaw.[2]

TVB's headquarters (Hong Kong TVB City) is Asia's largest commercial television production center.

TVB currently operates five free channels in Hong Kong: TVB Jade (Cantonese) and TVB Pearl (English) are TVB's flagship television channels. Under the digital terrestrial television platform, which formally commenced on 31 December 2007, J2 and iNEWS are new channels launched with standard definition, while TVB HD Jade is Hong Kong's first 24-hour broadcasting free channel in high definition.[3][4] TVB relaunched its pay-tv service in 2014 under a new brand, changing the name from TVB Pay Vision to TVB Network Vision. TVB Network Vision's channel are carried by PCCW NowTV service because of a carriage agreement dating from the pay-TV network's inception. Network Vision is run by veteran TVB executive, Felix To.[5]

TVB reaches out to the Overseas Chinese communities. Its productions are available in Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, among others, on channels such as TVB's own TVB-Europe subscription satellite service.[6] In Taiwan, TVB operates through its TVBS subsidiary.

Many of Hong Kong's film and pop stars started their careers at the station through drama series produced by TVB. Special TVB events such as the annual TVB Anniversary Celebration are broadcast to planetary audience. TVB also runs talent programmes such as the annual Miss Hong Kong and Miss Chinese International beauty pageants. Successful contestants may be offered TVB's contracts and represent Hong Kong to take part at world-class beauty contests, including the Miss World Pageant.

Notable events

The following are some of the notable events which have marked TVB's history:

Development

TVB dominates most of the television market in Hong Kong, but it is not considered the powerhouse it used to be. It started in 1965 as a competitor to what was then called Rediffusion Television, later become ATV, a cable operator that charged subscription fees for its operation, and the only terrestrial competitor to TVB. One of the first shows launched was Enjoy Yourself Tonight in 1967.

TVB receives praise for its programming from a wide range of demographics, including the middle class, as was the case with its 2004 historical drama series War and Beauty. Its programme line-up features a steady stream of soap operas, variety shows and other populist fare.

TVB has been criticised for signing exclusive contracts with many local celebrities which restrict them from appearing on other local television stations. Hong Kong's Cable T.V. claims it is unfair competition (although Asia Television, another major television station in Hong Kong, disagrees). In fact, many artists do not have exclusive contracts with TVB and are free to show up in programmes produced by other local television stations or out-sourcing production houses.

The annual TVB Music Awards ceremony is one of the biggest for Cantopop personalities. It is widely rumoured that TVB distributes the awards to those who are obedient to the company's demands, and the Independent Commission Against Corruption has investigated the arrangement of the awards.[7] It ruled that three TVB staff members under scrutiny were not guilty. Afterwards, TVB reformed its music programmes in a bid to reestablish their authority.[8]

On the other hand, TVB was awarded the National Association of Broadcasters's (NAB) International Broadcasting Excellence Award in 2001. The award recognised the company's outstanding contributions to the community through a wide range of charitable programmes and activities. Hong Kong thus becomes the first city in Asia to receive this prestigious award in this area.[2][9]

In 2005, TVB, in association with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, organised the biggest fund-raising campaign in the company's history in response to South-East Asia's devastating tsunami. It raised over one hundred million Hong Kong dollars to assist those affected.

In 2000, TVB Australia was established for the Australian market with a 17 channel (14 Chinese and 3 Vietnamese Channel) satellite service. Which has over 25000 households and over 1500 commercial outlets with an audience of over 130,000 daily.

From 31 March 2008, TVBS-Europe launched their "Multi-channel" package in Europe. It consists of 5 different channels which include the existing TVBS-Europe Channel plus the addition of TVBN, TVB Entertainment News, TVB Classic and TVB Lifestyle.[10]

Location

TVB Clear Water Bay headquarters in 2002
TVB City in Tseung Kwan O

TVB was originally located on Broadcast Drive in Kowloon Tong, and was neighbours with RTHK and ATV. By the late 1980s, the company had out-grown the facility at Broadcast Drive, and built a new studio complex, named T.V. City, at 220 Clear Water Bay Road in November 1988.[11] The first TVB City was in fact the old Shaw Movie Town complex used by Shaw Brothers since 1958. The old Broadcast Drive headquarters was later converted into apartments. The first TVB City is now used by Celestial Pictures.

To cope with future development and expansion, TVB began planning in 1998 to develop a replacement facility at the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate. The new HK$2.2 billion TVB City came into full operation in October 2003. The new headquarters are built on by far the largest piece of land ever leased by the then Hong Kong Industrial Estates Corporation and the first service-providing company in the area. It has a building area of over 110,000 square metres, 30% more than that of the previous facilities at Clear Water Bay. Studio 1 in TVB City, which can seat an audience of six hundred and thirty, is the largest television production studio among commercial television stations in Asia.[12]

News operation

Main article: TVB News

TVB broadcasts several news programmes, such as News At 6:30 (Jade) and News At 7:30 (Pearl). It also operates its own news channel, TVBN. (Chinese: TVB新聞台; Cantonese Yale: TVB san man toi) and TVBN2 (Chinese: TVB新聞二台; Cantonese Yale: TVB san man toi), through TVB Network Vision (Chinese: 無綫收費電視; Cantonese Yale: mo sin sau fai din si).

Management

Notable shows from TVB

TVB is a major television programme producer in Hong Kong, and its programmes usually receive greater ratings than offerings from the other local television stations. Many local and international movie actors, including Chow Yun-fat, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Stephen Chow, began their careers in TVB shows.

Criticism

In 2009, TVB drew criticism on Internet forums when its news department lightly dabbed the issue on 4 June Incident during the 20th Anniversary of the event. This was seen as a deliberate act to gain the favor of the Chinese Central Government, and to make their programming more acceptable by Chinese censors. TVB is also criticised for not reporting news that may harm their own interests, such as the mid-term review of both aTV's and TVB's broadcast licensing.[13][14]

The standard of TVB's entertainment programmes, from soap operas to game shows, have also been criticised to be of reducing quality. Soap operas reflect less and less of the lives of the average Hong Kong citizen, and game shows are said to resort to the use of bad language and borderline eroticism, wastage of food and resources, and polluting the minds and children and adolescents.

TVB has also been heavily criticised for being a copycat, copying many elements from the more successful shows on TV, sometimes to the extent that they even copy the entire format of a show, such as Hong Kong Today, with which TVB made Focus on Focus, others drama include "Forensic Heroes" was undeniably a copy from American TV "CSI", "Dicey Business" was a copy of "Las Vegas" .

Corruption probe

On 11 March 2010, the general manager Stephen Chan Chi Wan and four others were arrested on corruption charges by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). TVB confirmed that three of their employees were involved, and that their duties and work had been suspended pending further development. Stephen Chan Chi Wan was charged with corruption in September 2010 with TVB declining to comment on the situation.[15] Stephen Chan and his co-accused were acquitted by a court in September 2011.[16]

Channel list

Hong Kong Free-to-air

Hong Kong Pay Vision

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

International

Across in Taiwan (as for TVBS)

A TVBS logo in Taiwan.

See also

References

  1. ↑ The company registered on 26 July 1965 C.R. No:0011781（Television Broadcasts Limited）—The Cyber Search Centre of the Integrated Companies Registry Information System
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Corporate Information". Television Broadcasts Limited. 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2007.
  3. ↑ "Television Broadcasts Limited Provides Hong Kong's One-and-Only Free 24-Hour High Definition Channel". TVB. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
  4. ↑ "Picture imperfect". The Standard. Hong Kong. 11 June 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  5. ↑ Haskins, Will (3 June 2014). "TVB Aims For Pay-TV Turnaround". Media Business Asia. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Corporate Info". TVBI Company Limited. 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  7. ↑ "Stars arrested over 'rigged' awards". BBC. 17 July 2003. Retrieved 6 November 2007. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  8. ↑ "舞影行動終止　何麗全曾國強陳家倫慶清白" (in Simplified Chinese). 金羊網. 21/1/2005. Retrieved 11/06/2007. Check date values in: |date=, |accessdate= (help)
  9. ↑ "NAB International Broadcasting Excellence Award". National Association of Broadcasters. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  10. ↑ Chinese Channel Home Page
  11. ↑ [ShawMovieTown Shaw Brothers History]
  12. ↑ "Grand Opening of Television Broadcasts Limited's TVB City A Significant Milestone of the Broadcasting and Production Industry in Hong Kong". TVB. 10 December 2003. Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  13. ↑ http://www.scmp.com/topics/yuen-long-station
  14. ↑ yp.scmp.com/article/4554/yes-free-tv-channels
  15. ↑ MAK, Adrian Yau Kee (11 March 2010). "Announcement" (PDF). Television Broadcasts Limited. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  16. ↑ "TVB boss cleared in corruption case". RTHK. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2012.

External links