Hong Kong media mogul Ricky Wong may give up on free-to-air TV dream
Hong Kong Television Network will ‘review the commercial viability’ of plans, as tycoon says ‘broadcast-type mobile television service appear to be obsolete’
Media tycoon Ricky Wong Wai-kay is considering scrapping plans to run TV stations in the city, saying that the market had dramatically changed during his long battle to secure a free-to-air TV licence.
Wong said in a statement on Friday, when his Hong Kong Television Network announced its interim results, that the company will “review the commercial viability” of operating free TV and mobile TV channels and will come to a decision in the next few months.
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“It has been eight years since our first application for a free TV licence in December 2009. During this period, the advertising revenue, number of TV operators, technological development, interest of audience and viewing habits for the TV market in Hong Kong have all changed significantly,” Wong said.
“With the popularity of smartphone, broadcast-type mobile television service appears to be obsolete,” he added.
Wong’s hesitation towards the traditional TV industry came despite the city’s telecommunications watchdog last month approving his application to upgrade the resolution of his mobile TV service. It would be able to upgrade its mobile TV services to the digital format, allowing viewers to watch high-resolution videos.
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However, the firm has not yet heard back from the government about the result of its second free-to-air TV licence application, which it filed three years ago.
His first application was rejected by former chief executive Leung Chun-ying and his advisers in 2013 for an unknown “basket of factors”. This sparked a public outcry, with many questioning if the decision was politically driven.
