Hotel boss David Chiu follows father's footsteps to build Hong Kong TV empire
Like father, like son - David Chiu has the passion for entertainment business and empathy for others inherited from his late dad
Now 60 years old, he lived through the years when his father, late tycoon Deacon Chiu Te-ken, laid claim to the moniker "New Territories king of cinemas" for his network of more than a dozen cinemas. His father bought Rediffusion Television in the 1980s, renamed it ATV and took a hands-on approach to its affairs. Chiu senior was remarkable in broadcasting history as the only owner ever to turn the perennially troubled free-to-air ATV into a profitable venture.
All that ground to a halt when he sold the station in 1989. But now his son has come full circle, leading a consortium to apply for a free-to-air licence providing "free, multifaceted infotainment" services.
Inspired by his father, David Chiu is determined to set foot afresh in the arena now dominated by TVB - the city's biggest television station - amid competition from Hong Kong Television Network boss Ricky Wong Wai-kay, the other major player aspiring to a share of the market soon to be vacated by ATV.
"Our businesses started with the media, although we have also done banking and property development," said Chiu, now a prominent businessman whose Far East Consortium International runs about 30 hotels across the globe.
"So my dad always told me the bowl of rice I ate came from the entertainment business."
For his new venture Forever Top (Asia), he has roped in three other shareholders, most notably Pansy Ho Chiu-king, daughter of Macau gaming tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun.
