Metro Broadcast Corporation

Metro Broadcast Corporation Ltd.
Private
Industry Radio broadcasting
webcasting
Founded 1991
Headquarters Hung Hom, Kowloon West
Key people
 Li Ka Shing
Website Official website
Metro Broadcast Corporation
Traditional Chinese 新城廣播有限公司
Simplified Chinese 新城广播有限公司
Metro Broadcast Office in Whampoa Garden
Metro Broadcast Stduio in Central

Metro Broadcast Corporation Ltd. (Chinese: 新城廣播有限公司) is one of the three broadcasting corporations in Hong Kong, the others being Commercial Radio Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港商業電台) and Radio Television Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港電台). Metro was founded on 1 July 1991 and under the Hong Kong-listed Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited and Hutchison Whampoa Limited now.

Metro Radio Hong Kong, founded by its first Managing Director, Craig Quick, consists of six radio channels; Metro Finance (FM104), Metro Info (FM99.7), Metro Plus (AM 1044), Metro Finance Digital (DAB+), Metro Music Digital (DAB+) and Metro Life Digital (DAB+). Metro also offers multimedia broadcasting service through mobile phones, via the mobile phone service provider 3 Mobile. In addition, Metro offers eSHOP, an online shopping website.

In 2003, Metro was granted a 12-year radio broadcasting license by the Hong Kong Government in accordance with the Telecommunication Ordinance. This is due to expire in 2016. Metro Radio is the only commercial radio station in Hong Kong that broadcasts in AM, FM and DAB+.

History

In 1990 the Hong Kong government reformed radio broadcasting regulations, allowing the introduction of a third radio station. It released the license to Metro Radio.

In 1991 Metro Radio set up its headquarters in Site 11 Whampoa Garden in Hunghom, Kowloon (香港九龍紅磡黃埔花園 第十一期). At that time, Metro Radio had two Chinese channels- channel FM99.7 (勁歌台) and channel FM104 (金曲台) and an English channel - AM 1044 (Metro News).

In 1994 Philip Chan Yan Kin (陈欣健）took over as General Manager and revised many of its programs. In 1996 Metro Radio carried out a strategic shift of focus from news services to entertainment. The names of channel FM99.7 (勁歌台) and channel FM104 (金曲台) were changed to Hit Radio (新城997) and FM Select (精選104) respectively, and Metro News became Metro Plus. In the same year, Chan Hoi-kei (陳海琪) resigned as leader, and was replaced by Bak wan-kam (白韻琴).

In 1997 due to an expansion, the head office of Metro Radio moved to Basement 2 Site 6 Whampoa Garden, Hunghom, Kowloon (香港九龍紅磡黃埔花園第六期地庫二層).

In 1998 the company set up another broadcasting station in Central's The Center (中環中心), Hong Kong Island.

On 22 January 2001, it changed the name of Hit Radio (新城997) to Metro Showbiz (新城娛樂台). On 5 February, FM Select (精選104) was renamed Metro Finance (新城財經台).

In 2004 Metro Radio expanded its broadcasting in the Pearl River Delta by entering into a shared programming agreement with Radio Guangdong (廣東電台).

On 2 January 2008, Metro Showbiz was renamed to Metroinfo (新城知訊台). Metroinfo broadcast both entertainment and financial programs.

The CEO of Metro Radio was Kam Kwok-leung (甘國亮) and the director of Metroinfo was Chu Ming-yui (朱明銳) in the past.

Metro Finance (FM 104)

Metro Finance started up on 5 February 2001. The station delivers content relating to investment funds, securities, bonds, insurance and other information relating to financial markets in China and abroad.

Metro Finance World also organizes investment talks throughout the year. The chief executive officers of companies and investment banks or other financial commentators are invited to make speeches. Tso, the special column writer of "Investment Diary" in the Hong Kong Economic Journal, is an event organizer as well as a keynote speaker in these talks. Market trends are discussed, as well as investment advice for the audience. The talks are later broadcast by Metro Finance and other media in China.

Metro Info (FM 99.7)

Metro Showbiz broadcasts entertainment news hourly, 24 hours a day since 22 January 2001.

Hit awards

Every year Television Broadcast Limited (TVB), Commercial Radio, RTHK and Metro Radio present awards to outstanding singers, composers and authors for outstanding performance in the entertainment industry. Metro Radio holds the Hit Awards annually at the end of December (usually on Boxing Day, i.e. 26 December), which is the first award among the four. The Hit Awards gives out more than 100 different awards in categories such as singers, groups, and songs. In 2007, the music label, Gold Label boycotted the ceremony due to rumours about their singers receiving only a few awards. The station has also presented the annual Metro Radio Mandarin Hits Music Awards (新城國語力頒獎禮), around July and August, since 2002.

Metro Plus (AM 1044)

Metro plus AM1044 provides international news coverage, current affairs, entertainment, music, health, cosmetic trends, jokes and conducts interviews with celebrities. The Indonesian Hour, Filipino Hour and Desi Dhamaka are international programs available in the Hong Kong area.

Metro Plus was awarded "Caring Company 2002/2003" by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS).

Metro Finance Digital (DAB+ 11)

Metro Finance Digital (MFD) focuses on Mainland China and the worldwide financial market, with educational programmes on investment. programmes from Metro Finance and Metro Info channels are repeated in MFD as well.

Metro Music Digital (DAB+ 12)

This channel mainly focuses on music including local, British, American, Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese pop music. The programming includes jazz, soul and R&D music, and musicians are invited to the music programmes as DJs. Metro Music Digital (MMD) channel now broadcasts on its own for 14 hours per day, then jointly broadcasts with Metro Finance and Metro Info channels for the remaining time. The slogan of MMD is "Love Music, Love Green."

Metro Life Digital (DAB+ 13)

Metro Life Digital (MLD) began broadcasting on 17 Sep2014. Its programmes mainly focus on finance, lifestyle, science, history and religion. MLD broadcasts music programme from midnight to early morning.

See also

References

    Source: Pinyin translated by Cozy Website

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