| Television Broadcasts Limited |
|
|
| Type |
Public SEHK: 0511 |
| Founded |
Broadcast Drive, Kowloon, Hong Kong (1967) |
| Headquarters |
77 Chun Choi Street
Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate;
New Territories, Hong Kong |
| Key people |
Sir Run Run Shaw |
| Industry |
Television broadcasting |
| Products |
TVB Jade, TVB Pearl, TVBI, TVB Pay Vision, TVBS, TVB.com Limited, TVB magazine, etc. |
| Revenue |
$4.18 billion HK dollars (2005-2006) |
| Employees |
4519 (December 2005) |
| Slogan |
全力以赴做到最好(1997);
人氣所在創新天(2005) |
| Website |
http://www.tvb.com |
Television Broadcasts Limited (SEHK: 0511), commonly known as TVB, was the first over-the-air commercial
television station in Hong Kong. Commenced
broadcasting on 19 November 1967 [1], with a staff of about
4,500, it is now one of two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being
its arch-rival in business, ATV.[2]
TVB is the first free-to-air (FTA) television broadcaster in Hong Kong. When TVB first
began broadcasting, to distinguish it from the only cable television broadcaster, Rediffusion Television, it was commonly known as "Wireless Television" (無綫電視 pinyin: wúxiàn diànshì) in Chinese. Although there is more than one wireless television station now (the other is
Asia Television, the successor of Rediffusion Television), TVB is still known as
"Wireless Television" today.
TVB is now the largest commercial Chinese program producer in the world, with a
staff of about 4,500, including about 500 contract artists and staff in overseas subsidiary companies. The company's current
chairman is Sir Run Run Shaw.[2]
It owns two free-to-air channels in Hong Kong, namely TVB Jade (Cantonese) and TVB Pearl (English and foreign languages). TVB Jade enjoys the largest audience share in Hong Kong, and is often
referred to simply as TVB. TVB is also involved in Hong Kong's pay-TV market, providing twelve channels for its associated
company, TVB Pay Vision Limited. TVB have also decided to launch Digital terrestrial television services in the end of 2007 and a free-to-air
HDTV channel in 2008, offering general entertainment programing with more
than 14 hours of high definition programs per day.[3] According to TVB, the company will adopt H.264/MPEG-4
AVC as the codec for all new channels (Simulcast channels will be encoded with MPEG-2).[4]
TVB reaches out to the overseas Chinese communities. Its productions are available
in Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, the United States, United
Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, and
Singapore, among others, on channels such as TVB's own TVBS-Europe[1] subscription satellite service.[5] Its dramas are
internationally acclaimed, and many of Hong Kong's top film and pop stars started their careers at TVB. Special TVB events such
as the annual TVB Anniversary Celebration are broadcast to worldwide 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.
Development
Broadcasting Centre of
TVB city
TVB enjoys dominance of the television market in Hong Kong, but it is not considered the powerhouse it used to be. It was
started in 1965 as a competitor to what was then called Rediffusion Television,
later to become ATV, a cable operator that charged subscription fees for its operation, and the only terrestrial competitor to
TVB. One of the first show 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 lineup features a steady stream of soap operas, variety shows and other populist fare. Its documentaries and news
programming rarely feature serious analysis, skewing instead toward human interest stories.
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 TV claims it is unfair competition (although Asia Television Ltd, 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 hands out the awards to those who are obedient to the company's demands, and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Hong Kong) has
investigated the arrangement of the awards.[6] It ruled
that three TVB staff members under scrutiny were not guilty. Afterwards, TVB reformed its music programs in a bid to re-establish
their authority.[7]
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 programs and activities.
Hong Kong thus becomes the first city in Asia to receive this prestigious award in this area.[2]
In 2005, TVB, in association with the Hong Kong Jockey
Club, organised the biggest fundraising campaign in the company's history in response to South-East Asia's tsunami
disaster. It raised over 100 million Hong Kong dollars to assist the people
affected.
To cope with future development and expansion, TVB began planning in 2019 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
Clearwater Bay. Studio 1 in TVB City, which can seat an audience of 630, is the largest television production studio among
commercial television stations in Asia.[8]
News operation
-
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 (無綫新聞台 pinyin: wúxiàn xīnwéntái) and TVBN2 (無綫新聞二台 pinyin: wúxiàn xīnwénèrtái), through TVB Pay Vision (無綫收費電視 pinyin: wúxiàn
shōufèi diànshì).
Notable shows from TVB
-
TVB is a major television-producer in Hong Kong, and its programmes usually receive higher ratings than offerings from the
other local television stations.
- A Kindred Spirit 真情 was a television drama series that was broadcast on TVB Jade in
Hong Kong from May 15, 1995 to November 11, 1999. It is one of the longest running drama show in Hong Kong
television history (the longest being the sitcom Hong Kong 81 series). Its exceptional longevity still amazes people in a city
where scripted TV drama programs typically only last around 20 episodes, with the show running daily. The total number of
episodes is 1,128.
- The Legend of the Condor Heroes 射雕英雄傳 (starring the famous on screen
couple portrayed by Felix Wong Yat Wah and his co-star Barbara Yung Mei Ling)
- Return of the Condor Heroes 神雕俠侶 (a highly successful sequel to the
first Condor series, starring Andy Lau and Idy Chan)
- The Bund 上海灘 (a classic series of the 1980s, starring a young Chow Yun-Fat, regarded by many as one of the best TVB series. Chow shot to stardom soon after.)
- Looking Back in Anger 義不容情 (a classic, it had enormous ratings and was one of
the most rented TVB series ever. It is also remembered for its tragic ending.)
- The Greed of Man 大時代 (one of the most controversial and culturally important shows
in the early 1990s. Also remarkable for its effect on the stock market)
- Detective Investigation Files 刑事偵輯檔案 (3 installments, 1 spin-off, 4
season in total. Talks about a pair of detectives solving criminal cases within Hong Kong.)
- Files of Justice 壹號皇庭 (5 seasons, a little similar to Law and Order, except that they
actually spend more time on debating lawsuits in the court)
- Secret of Heart 天地豪情(3 seasons in one shot, 61 episodes. Made the villain in the series,
Nick Cheung) become a star and grabbed many awards for other fellow cast members.
- Untraceable Evidence 鑑證實錄(2 seasons. It is remembered for its storyline along with forensic
science, similar to United States series CSI
franchise in some way)
- Cold Blood Warm Heart 天地男儿 (an all-time favourite classic remembered for its
amazing love triangle and plot with Gallen Lo, Julian Cheung Chilam, Nnadia Chen and Jessica Tsuan. Gallen Lo's role as a villain
was most noticeable.)
- Healing Hands 妙手仁心 (remembered for its remarkable medical accuracy. It is similar to
the United States series ER)
- At the Threshold of an Era 創世紀 (Two series in total. Being the biggest
television production ever created in Hong Kong history. It was a celebration for the end of the twentieth century.)
- Armed Reaction 陀槍師姐 (four series in total. Talks about the discrimination women face
within the police force.)
- Journey to the West 西遊記 (one of the few TVB Jade programmes to
be dubbed in English and rebroadcast on TVB Pearl. Tells the story of the Monkey King and his
journey to retireve the scrolls. It also helped re-launch Dicky Cheung's career.
- War of the Genders 男親女愛 (a long-running comedy series, starring the comedic Dayo
Wong Tze-Wah and Carol Cheng Yu-Ling, which final episode scored the highest ratings in Hong Kong history at the time).
- Virtues of Harmony 皆大歡喜 (one of the longest running sitcoms in Hong Kong, a historical costume series with a modern-day spin-off)
- Gods of Honour 封神榜 (a popular drama about the life and trials of nezha before being God, and
battle of two sides against an evil concubine who titled herself as the King. This was Benny
Chan Ho Man)'s most notable role.
- Wars of In-Laws 我的野蠻奶奶 (The 2005 Best Series Award winner)
- La Femme Desperado 女人唔易做 (a series deals with the social issues in today's
society & 2006 Best Series winner)
- Dicey Business 賭場風雲 (a drama for the 39th anniversary. Known for its bitter sad
ending.)
- Heart of Greed 溏心風暴 (a notable drama which was aired in 2007 with high ratings and
has a popular feedback)
- The Drive of Life 歲月風雲 (a drama to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Hong Kong
returning to Mainland China)
For a full list of TVB Dramas, see TVB
Dramas
Notable people
Management and behind the scenes
- Sir Run Run Shaw (邵逸夫) G.B.M. (Executive Chairman)
- Mona Fong (方逸華) (Deputy Chairperson and Acting Managing Director)
- Stephen Chan Chi Wan (陳志雲) General Manager
- Virginia Lok TVB's high executive
Actors (Past and present)
Actresses (Past and present)
For an up-dated list with profiles see HKADB.
See also
References
Pinyin translated with CozyChinese.COM
External links
The following channels offer at least some programming in Chinese
zh-yue:無綫電視
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
