Chinese TV boxes like Xiaomi offering Hongkongers online alternative to local channels

The failure of tycoon Ricky Wong Wai-kay to get his internet and mobile television station up and running is not stopping Hongkongers from going online to find alternatives to the city's much-maligned broadcasters.

A set-top box made by mainland technology giant Xiaomi is selling fast, despite the fact programmes from Wong's Hong Kong Television Network will not be available any time soon.

Launched in the city in May last year, sales took off with help from the immense popularity of the Korean drama My Love From the Star and mainland music show I am a Singer, both available online before they featured on local television.

The box works on the Android operating system also used on smartphones. Users plug the box into their television, connect to the internet and select the app for iCNTV, which offers content from mainland video websites.

And other - unofficial - options can give users access to a range of content that might cost them hundreds of dollars per month from pay-TV operators.

Alris Technology, the authorised seller of the box in Hong Kong, is getting through 10,000 of the HK$599 boxes per month and will not have any more stock until the end of this month, according to Kelvin Ip Ka-chun, product manager for the box.

"It's similar to watching videos on streaming websites using a computer. But with a Xiaomi box, you can control everything on a remote," Ip explained.