It is the end of the day on the first of April in 2016, and also the end of Asia Television (ATV) with license to broadcast free-to-air in Hong Kong. We are going to look back on its story briefly to commemorate Hueng Gong, the Cantonese Hong Kong.
Content development: Home Office Content
Chinese version: Please visit homeofficecontent.blogspot.com
Date of release: 1 April 2016
The latest update: 3 April 2016
ATV is formerly known as Rediffusion Television (RTV) which was run by Rediffusion Hong Kong Limited, the radio broadcasting company and pay TV service provider in Hong Kong as well as TV production company for Southeast Asian market such as Singapore and Malaysia.
It is the first Cantonese TV station in the world, the major source of Cantonese TV programmes other than Television Broadcast Limited (TVB) in world Chinese community last decades.
There is quite a number of people in Hong Kong already fed up with its constantly replay of decades-old dramas and documentaries. It has suffered from serious financial hardship since few years ago. Before that, the business had changed hands several times. Some people dislike ATV as some of the major share holders who are not Hong Kong residents but are mainland Chinese which affects the company's political standpoint. Just to be fair, the source of capital was originated from Australia even at the time of RTV.
I have to write a short account of it because of its popularity, wide circulation and 59 years business history in view of Hong Kong history.
In my knowledge, people who enjoy with RTV and ATV programmes include not only some Chinese people - those Hongkongers, Macanese and the rest of the Cantonese anywhere in the world, especially in Guangdong, Guangxi, other mainland Chinese who don't use Cantonese language, overseas Chinese mainly in Southeast Asia - but also some other Asian people as well.
The classic RTV dramas which are still circulated on the internet or available in form of VCD or DVD include "Fatherland", "Crocodile Tears", "Chameleon" and "Gone with the wind". Besides, "Hong Kong Gentlemen" is also a RTV's masterpiece aside from fewer people to mention. All of them released in late 70s to early 80s, the golden age of Hong Kong TV industry. They are the most valuable asset of ATV and were already sold out last year.
Of course, martial arts drama is something shouldn't be missed here. Dramas called "Reincarnated" in 1979 and "Tai Chi Master" in 1980 by RTV; "Drunken Fist" in 1984 and "The Blood Sword" in 1990 by ATV are considered the most important ones according to the word of mouth.
ATV did not make much dramas since the millennium, it changed to focus on making documentary, current affairs programme and talk show. Sometimes its history documentaries, travel and gourmet shows are quite informative, for example, "The Culture Roots of Hong Kong" and "Famous Chinese Cuisine". The former contains myths, legends and oral history of Hong Kong while the latter gives viewers a general introduction of Chinese regional cuisine.
Don't belittle ATV's documentaries. The most famous "Stories From Afar" is indeed a historical record of overseas Chinese studies. And "Adventure For The Herbal Medicine" is as comprehensive as an introductory course of Chinese medicine inside the university. In fact, the production of this TV programme was supported by both Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the School of Chinese Medicine of Hong Kong Baptist University.
Some of ATV's documentaries required filming and interviews in mainland China. In other words, people from different ethnic and social background, local produce in various regions, the city scenic, the country beauty can also be seen altogether. No doubt, ATV was competent to produce programmes featured on the latest developments in China, especially Guangdong. Although some audiencesmight suspect whether they're watching leisure TV programmes or not, but it's no big deal to watch advertorial TV shows for free. After all, Machongzhan is quite a nice small village, Xun Liao Wan is good to vacate once for few days, there are some good places to hung out along the Guangdong Greenway,...
Well, the past RTV and the present ATV have gone with the wind. Yet, their images will always on the viewers mind.
Content development: Home Office Content
Chinese version: Please visit homeofficecontent.blogspot.com
Date of release: 1 April 2016
The latest update: 3 April 2016
ATV is formerly known as Rediffusion Television (RTV) which was run by Rediffusion Hong Kong Limited, the radio broadcasting company and pay TV service provider in Hong Kong as well as TV production company for Southeast Asian market such as Singapore and Malaysia.
It is the first Cantonese TV station in the world, the major source of Cantonese TV programmes other than Television Broadcast Limited (TVB) in world Chinese community last decades.
There is quite a number of people in Hong Kong already fed up with its constantly replay of decades-old dramas and documentaries. It has suffered from serious financial hardship since few years ago. Before that, the business had changed hands several times. Some people dislike ATV as some of the major share holders who are not Hong Kong residents but are mainland Chinese which affects the company's political standpoint. Just to be fair, the source of capital was originated from Australia even at the time of RTV.
I have to write a short account of it because of its popularity, wide circulation and 59 years business history in view of Hong Kong history.
In my knowledge, people who enjoy with RTV and ATV programmes include not only some Chinese people - those Hongkongers, Macanese and the rest of the Cantonese anywhere in the world, especially in Guangdong, Guangxi, other mainland Chinese who don't use Cantonese language, overseas Chinese mainly in Southeast Asia - but also some other Asian people as well.
The classic RTV dramas which are still circulated on the internet or available in form of VCD or DVD include "Fatherland", "Crocodile Tears", "Chameleon" and "Gone with the wind". Besides, "Hong Kong Gentlemen" is also a RTV's masterpiece aside from fewer people to mention. All of them released in late 70s to early 80s, the golden age of Hong Kong TV industry. They are the most valuable asset of ATV and were already sold out last year.
Of course, martial arts drama is something shouldn't be missed here. Dramas called "Reincarnated" in 1979 and "Tai Chi Master" in 1980 by RTV; "Drunken Fist" in 1984 and "The Blood Sword" in 1990 by ATV are considered the most important ones according to the word of mouth.
ATV did not make much dramas since the millennium, it changed to focus on making documentary, current affairs programme and talk show. Sometimes its history documentaries, travel and gourmet shows are quite informative, for example, "The Culture Roots of Hong Kong" and "Famous Chinese Cuisine". The former contains myths, legends and oral history of Hong Kong while the latter gives viewers a general introduction of Chinese regional cuisine.
Don't belittle ATV's documentaries. The most famous "Stories From Afar" is indeed a historical record of overseas Chinese studies. And "Adventure For The Herbal Medicine" is as comprehensive as an introductory course of Chinese medicine inside the university. In fact, the production of this TV programme was supported by both Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the School of Chinese Medicine of Hong Kong Baptist University.
Some of ATV's documentaries required filming and interviews in mainland China. In other words, people from different ethnic and social background, local produce in various regions, the city scenic, the country beauty can also be seen altogether. No doubt, ATV was competent to produce programmes featured on the latest developments in China, especially Guangdong. Although some audiencesmight suspect whether they're watching leisure TV programmes or not, but it's no big deal to watch advertorial TV shows for free. After all, Machongzhan is quite a nice small village, Xun Liao Wan is good to vacate once for few days, there are some good places to hung out along the Guangdong Greenway,...
Well, the past RTV and the present ATV have gone with the wind. Yet, their images will always on the viewers mind.
No comments:
Post a Comment