Hong Kong 'white knight' hopes to save ATV through spectrum licence

There is a chance to resurrect Asia Television, says the businessman who still aspires to be the "white knight" of the ailing broadcaster, if the government allows the station to keep its spectrum for another three years.

In an exclusive interview with the , Kelvin Wu King-shiu, principal partner of AID Partners Capital, the private equity firm that signed an agreement to acquire a controlling stake of 52.4 per cent in the beleaguered broadcaster, said although ATV would lose its free-TV licence next year, the station might still live if its fixed carrier's licence could continue until November 2018 as originally stated.

But despite uncertainties over the ATV deal, Wu has gone ahead with his television venture, including an investment in a Chinese remake of American hit teen drama .

"On the one hand, we can work with another free-TV licence holder and broadcast its content. On the other, we can apply for a new free-TV licence," Wu said.

The fixed carrier licence allows communication between fixed locations.

Both ATV and TVB have this licence, which allows them to broadcast their terrestrial free-TV services through existing spectrums.

AID's managing partner Gilbert Ho Chi-hang said the free-TV licence and fixed carrier licence were separate.