Hong Kong’s television industry brings the best and worst of times as Viu TV kicked off its service with more programming selection for consumers while Hong Kong’s Asia Television (ATV) broadcasting company goes off air.

The Asia Television (ATV) broadcasting company had faced a gradual decline in production quality and viewership and stopped airing as ATV failed to renew its’ license. The departure of ATV coincided with the emergence of PCCW’s ViuTV as it entered the market taking on existing broadcasters such as TVB and RTHK , which runs three free TV channels including new Internet-based TV stations.

Impact of smart devices Chinese Internet TV platform LeEco (formerly known as LeTv) has gained a strong position in the Hong Kong market by showcasing more than 10 channels and video-on-demand service through customised smartphone and smart TV devices. HKTV was considered the frontier in the television market three years ago when it launched the station through online platform.

The station won acclaim from the public as it aired high-quality drama series such as The Election and The Borderline. However, its reach was threatened by smartphones and smart TVs, making it difficult for HKTV to compete with the dominance of TVB. Due to the license setback, the company focused on the operation of an e-commerce platform which involved huge investments. HKTV continues to build a multimedia production centre in Tseung Kwan O in the hope that it can make a comeback to the TV market.

HKTV would be able to co-exist with Viu TV, given that the latter will focus on reality shows and infotainment programmes while HKTV would be able to focus on drama series productions. Industry observers have claimed that in the past, HKTV could be pursuing a wrong strategy for concentrating on drama series productions, a segment where TVB has huge strengths. Free-to-air TV outlet Viu TV is kicking off with a new approach by offering its free TV channel which relies on reality shows, infotainment programmes and talk shows, instead of locally produced drama series. Given the dominance of TVB in the TV drama business, Viu TV might capture small-scale productions in the segment and rely on new topics to satisfy viewers looking for various types of shows.

Viu TV is attempting to explore a new model by trying to change people’s viewing habits that were locked for more than four decades under TVB. Viu TV aims create a buzz through reality shows such as Travel with Rivals, as well as talk shows which increases public awareness about the new channel. Award-winning service provider PCCW Global, the international operating division of HKT, Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications service provider, won the Users’ Choice Award and the Innovation Award: Operator for its excellence in customer service and innovation at the World Communications Awards. The Users’ Choice Award, which recognises excellence in customer care in business services, is particularly rewarding and is different to the other award categories as entries are judged based on extensive end user research carried out among companies in over 30 countries and more than 1,000 respondents participated.

The winner is the service provider that received the highest customer satisfaction index (CSI) score, which is generated based on an assessment of the survey responses to questions regarding levels of satisfaction with the product, value for money, and the level of customer support they received from their service provider over a 12-month period. ‘GlobalView’, PCCW Global’s multiaward winning real-time, cloudbased, reporting tool for international roaming services, won the accolade of the Innovation Award: Operator for applying big data technology that allows mobile operators to better manage their understanding of roaming customers.

PCCW Global forms part of an ongoing programme of strategic development aimed at continuously enhancing its ability to deliver digital solutions globally whilst retaining allout passion for service excellence. The integration of real time communication services is helping businesses of all sizes adapt quickly to the many changes taking place in what has become a very fast-paced and mobile-centric world.