Cable TV drama sign of how times have changed for viewers
- Decision by Hong Kong broadcaster to shut its pay-TV channels reflects a rapidly changing media landscape with live-streaming technology and new global players
The internet age has killed off businesses that failed to adapt to the changing environment. The decision by Hong Kong Cable Television to shut down all pay-TV channels and focus on its fledgling free-to-air services is more than just a matter of survival for the 30-year-old broadcaster. The make-or-break transformation has far-reaching implications for an industry that has been struggling to reinvent itself in an increasingly challenging market.
The launch of multichannel pay TV in 1993 was quite a revolution in the city’s broadcasting history. With a million subscribers and more than 100 channels at its peak, the station enjoyed a good reputation in its coverage of news, sports and lifestyle entertainment. But like other broadcasters, it has been struggling to survive in recent years. Citing the rapidly changing media landscape and fierce competition among global TV players, it has decided to pull the plug on its pay-TV services on June 1. But it has pledged to strengthen its free broadcasting, adding that there are no immediate lay-off plans.
We trust the operator will handle the winding-up of its TV subscription service satisfactorily while continuing its broadband telecommunications, telephone and mobile services.
Hong Kong Cable TV subscribers worry about other services when plug pulled in June
The termination has added to a long list of casualties in the local broadcasting industry. NowTV, a sister company of free-to-air ViuTV, will become the only local pay-TV station. Following the demise of ATV, ViuTV has turned from an underdog to a potential rival of TVB, which has been proactively tapping the retail business. The transformation speaks volumes about challenges facing the industry. Whether there will be more competition and choice for viewers remains to be seen. But the overall outlook is far from clear.
There is certainly a need for broadcasters to be more sensitive to the shifting environment and viewers’ tastes. The market is shrinking as a result of intensifying competition as well as a changing audience profile and preference. The emergence of live-streaming technology and global TV players has given viewers more choice. This is not helped when regulations are still considered by some as too rigid and not conducive to business operations. The government may help by ensuring there is a healthy environment for growth and development. This is especially important when the creative industries have been made a key policy area for development by the administration.
Gone are the days when youngsters grew up watching television. Unlike the era when TVB dramas were watched by Chinese everywhere, Korean dramas and Netflix programmes have taken the world by storm nowadays. While the platforms have changed, content remains king. It is incumbent upon the operators to adapt or be consigned to history.
