We don't want another own goal
It is dominating conversation; it has attracted intense media coverage, and it figures prominently in radio phone-in programmes. Is it the construction of the controversial Western Corridor Railway? Or the Sino-British row over the provisional legislature? Maybe the selection of the first Chief Executive? Unfortunately for those who think they have got their finger on the political pulse, it is none of these pressing subjects. What is capturing almost half the population's interest is a sporting event on the other side of the world - Euro 96, the European soccer championship. Even before the championship started earlier this month, many in Hong Kong were prepared to spend sleepless nights staying up to watch live broadcasts beamed from Britain. But a good portion of those were left frustrated and disappointed when they found out that Wharf, Hong Kong's sole cable network owner, had bought the exclusive rights.
Disgruntled soccer fans whose households had yet to be hooked up to the cable network went berserk - and the complaints flooded in against cable TV's monopoly.
Their main gripe was that, knowing that it was not yet able to cover the territory, Wharf Cable should not have bought the screening rights. Instead, it should have shared the satellite feed with terrestrial television. The complainants have every reason to be unhappy, but perhaps when they calm down, they should turn their ire against the two big local stations for failing to bid. The price paid for the rights is said to be $3.7 million. Not an astronomical figure, especially for a cash cow like TVB which recorded a net profit of $486 million last year.
TVB's excuse - that it had tried to secure the rights but could not afford them - is just incredible. Surely, TVB executives need to understand that their station's reputation and popularity are worth more than one per cent of its profits. For years, TVB has called itself Hong Kong's leading station and it is unthinkable for many among its loyal audience that it could have missed the boat.
And even for a less well-off station like ATV, if it is serious in offering a challenge to its arch rival, it should have considered digging deep into its pocket to buy the programmes. But instead of thinking twice, the stations just gave up.
Perhaps this is a lesson that Hong Kong people can carry over into discussions of another recent hot topic - the construction of the Western Corridor Railway.