Follow Hong Kong Investment Immigration and Hong Kong Life: On the 15th, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government approved the issuance of two additional free television licenses to "Fantastic Television" and "Hong Kong Television Entertainment." This also means that for the first time in nearly 40 years, Hong Kong citizens will be able to watch free programs from television stations other than "TVB" and "ATV."
For nearly 40 years, all free television programs in Hong Kong have been provided by two television stations—Hong Kong Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) and Asia Television Limited (ATV). To introduce competition into the market, the Special Administrative Region government began accepting applications for free television licenses at the end of 2009. Three television stations submitted applications: Fantastic Television under Hong Kong Cable Television, Hong Kong Television Entertainment under PCCW, and Hong Kong Television Network. On the 15th of this month, after nearly four years of deliberation, the applications for the three free television licenses were finally decided. The Special Administrative Region government announced that it has, in principle, agreed to grant two licenses to "Fantastic Television" and "Hong Kong Television Entertainment." However, Hong Kong Television Network, which has invested 300 million in program production, did not receive a license.
According to previous surveys, the vast majority of the Hong Kong public supports the increase of free licenses, mainly due to dissatisfaction with the quality of programs from the existing two free television stations (TVB and ATV), which are considered lacking in entertainment value. However, both of these television stations have previously expressed opposition to the issuance of additional free television licenses.
On the 15th, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau, stated when announcing the news that this issuance of free licenses is the first time in nearly 40 years that more competition has been introduced into the Hong Kong free television market. The number of free television stations will increase from 2 to 4, doubling the options available to viewers. According to regulations, the newly licensed television stations will each provide one channel within one year of receiving their licenses. According to the plan, Fantastic Television will gradually launch Cantonese, Chinese, and English channels, broadcasting news, entertainment, sports, and movies. Hong Kong Television Entertainment will also establish 24-hour Chinese and English channels, providing news, finance, documentaries, and lifestyle programs. Meanwhile, Hong Kong Television Network, which did not receive a license, announced on the 16th that it would lay off over 300 employees.
On the other hand, in response to the potential "chaos" that may arise from multiple free television stations in Hong Kong, the existing free television stations are also actively responding. For example, TVB has been reaching out to artists who have gone to the mainland or left the industry since 2011, inviting them to return to filming dramas, including actors such as Anthony Wong, Tony Leung, Ada Choi, and Julian Cheung. In recent years, they have also been promoting new talent. Additionally, to recover their declining ratings, TVB has started large-scale productions of sequels to previously high-rated dramas since 2012, such as "Triumph in the Skies II" and "The Drive of Life II," both of which have achieved good ratings.