HKTV boss Ricky Wong won't come to the rescue of ailing broadcaster ATV
Sees no 'basis for collaboration' with troubled channel he once ran - despite big fall in viewership for his online station
Online station HKTV sees no grounds to work with ailing free-to-air broadcaster ATV, the former's boss Ricky Wong Wai-kay said yesterday.
Speaking at the launch of HKTV's shopping platform, Wong sought to end months of speculation that he would come to the rescue of cash-strapped ATV - of which he was once chief executive for 12 days. Instead he was focused on developing his two-month-old online channel, despite a recent drop in viewership.
"There is no basis for collaboration," Wong said. He confirmed there had been talks with ATV, but added: "We are willing to help. But towards the end … it became very difficult."
Wong rejected suggestions he could buy a 10.75 per cent stake in ATV that is being offered for sale by a court-appointed accountancy firm in a move intended to break the grip of ATV's major investor, Wong Ching.
"It is not a controlling stake. It is not appealing at all," Ricky Wong said. Asked about other forms of collaboration, such as licensing content to ATV, he said discussions had proved difficult.
"We set up HKTV in the hope of bringing Hong Kong's creative industries to a new frontier. We would give any reasonable arrangements serious consideration," he added.
ATV is beset by myriad problems: it faces court action for failing to pay staff, its main shareholders are at loggerheads and its broadcasting licence, which expires later this year, is in severe danger of not being renewed.
