Television Broadcasts Limited

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Please expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in the Cantonese Wikipedia. (June 2009) After translating, {{Translated|zh-yue|無綫電視}} must be added to the talk page to ensure copyright compliance. Translation instructions · Involve your language class

Television Broadcasts Limited

Type	Public SEHK: 0511,OTCBB: TVBCY
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, TVB Publishing, etc.
Revenue	$4.33 billion HK dollars (2007)
Employees	4532 (2007)
Website	http://www.tvb.com

Television Broadcasts Limited
Traditional Chinese:	電視廣播有限公司
Transliterations Cantonese - Jyutping: din6 si6 gwong2 bo3 yau5 haan6 gung1 si1 - Yale Romanization: dinh sih gwóng bo yáuh haahn gūng sī

Television Broadcasts Limited (SEHK: 0511,OTCBB: TVBCY), commonly known as TVB, was the first over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967.^[1]. With a staff of about 4,500, it is one of two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival, 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 Cantonese: mo sin din si) in Chinese. Although there is more than one wireless television station now. The company's current chairman is Sir Run Run Shaw.^[2]

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 HD Jade is Hong Kong's One-and-Only 24-hour broadcasting channel in high definition. ^[3][4] TVB currently provides twelve pay-tv channels for its associated company, TVB Pay Vision Limited.

TVB reaches out to the overseas Chinese communities. Its productions are available in Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, among others, on channels such as TVB's own TVBS-Europe[1] subscription satellite service.^[5] 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.

Contents 1 Development 2 Location 3 News operation 4 Management 5 Notable shows from TVB 6 Channel List 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] 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 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 program 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 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 distributes 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 reestablish 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][8]

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 recent tsunami. It raised over one hundred million Hong Kong dollars to assist those affected.

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.^[9]

[edit] Location

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 Clear Water Bay in Sai Kung. The old Broadcast Drive headquarters was later converted into apartments.

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.^[10]

[edit] News operation

TVB broadcasts several news programs, such as Jade Prime News (Jade) and Pearl Headline Prime (Pearl). It also operates its own news channel, TVBN. (traditional Chinese: 無綫新聞台; Cantonese Yale: mo sin san man toi) and TVBN2 (traditional Chinese: 無綫新聞二台; Cantonese Yale: mo sin san man toi), through TVB Pay Vision (traditional Chinese: 無綫收費電視; Cantonese Yale: mo sin sau fai din si).

[edit] Management

• Sir Run Run Shaw (邵逸夫) G.B.M. (Executive Chairman)
• Mona Fong (方逸華) (Deputy Chairwoman and Acting Managing Directress)
• Stephen Chan Chi Wan (陳志雲) General Manager
• Virginia Lok Artiste Management Executive(樂易玲)

[edit] Notable shows from TVB

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TVB is a major television-producer in Hong Kong, and its programs usually receive greater ratings than offerings from the other local television stations.

• Enjoy yourself tonight A popular show during 1980's to 1990's. Giving entertainment to the public in Hong Kong.
• Racing Peak A popular series about a horse race company starring Felix Wong and Amy Chan.
• A Kindred Spirit 真情 was a classic television drama series that was broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong from 15 May 1995 to 11 November 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 twenty episodes, with the show running daily. The total number of episodes is 1,128.
• Super Trio Series 獎門人系列 Long running and popular variety game show since 1994.
• 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 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 starring Felix Wong and Carina Lau (a classic, it had high 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 (three installments, one spin-off, four seasons in total. Talks about a pair of detectives solving criminal cases within Hong Kong.)
• Files of Justice 壹號皇庭 (five seasons, a little similar to Law and Order, except that they actually spend more time on debating law-suits in the court)
• Secret of Heart 天地豪情 starring Gallen Lo, Felix Wong, Amy Kwok, Kathy Chow, Jessica Hsuan, Paul Chun (three seasons in one shot, sixty-one 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 (two seasons. It is remembered for its story-line along with forensic science, somewhat similar to the US CSI franchise)
• Cold Blood Warm Heart 天地男兒 (an all-time favourite classic remembered for its love triangle and plot with Gallen Lo, Julian Cheung Chilam, Nnadia Chen and Jessica Hsuan.)
• 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, and is 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 seasons in total so far, which talks about the discrimination women face within the police force.)
• Journey to the West 西遊記 (one of the few TVB Jade programs to be dubbed in English and rebroadcast on TVB Pearl. Tells the story of the Monkey King and his journey to retrieve the scrolls. It also helped relaunch Dicky Cheung's career.)
• War of the Genders 男親女愛 (a long-running comedy series, starring the comedic Dayo Wong and Carol Cheng).
• 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 a God, and battle of two sides against an evil concubine who titled herself as the Queen.)
• War and Beauty 金枝慾孽 (Set in the Qing Dynasty, this popular drama depicts how wives of the king battle psychologically against each other in order to strive to the top. Time was set at the Qing dynasty.)
• Wars of In-Laws 我的野蠻奶奶 (The 2005 Best Series Award winner with a modern-day spin-off.)
• La Femme Desperado 女人唔易做 (A series that deals with the social issues in today's society & was the 2006 Best Series Award winner.)
• Heart of Greed 溏心風暴 (A very high rating series which was the 2007 Best Series Award winner.)
• Moonlight Resonance 溏心風暴之家好月圓 (The highest-rated TVB production ever produced, 2008 Best Series Award winner and sister production of 2007's Heart of Greed.)
• The Academy (3 installments, the third installment E.U. was widely popular in part due to Michael Tse's role, Laughing)
• Rosy Business (Aired in 2009, popular for Wayne Lai's character, Chai Kau)

[edit] Channel List

• TVB Jade
• TVB Pearl
• TVB J2
• TVB iNews
• TVB HD Jade

[edit] See also

• List of Hong Kong companies
• List of Chinese companies
• Asia Television Ltd - rival broadcaster
• TVB News

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• TVB Official Site (Chinese)

v • d • e Broadcast television networks in the Philippines Major networks: ABS-CBN · GMA State-controlled networks: IBC · NBN · C/S 9 Minor networks: CLTV · CBS · EBC · PBC · QTV · RJTV · SBN · Studio 23 · TV5 Religious networks: ACQ-KBN · CCTN · CEBS · DBS · Gateway/3ABN · Zoe TV Defunct networks: BBC · FUBC · DZRH