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SCMP Reporter

Mainland-backed businessman and Phoenix TV chairman Liu Changle has taken control of free-to-air broadcaster, Asia Television (ATV).

A company controlled by Mr Liu has acquired 46 per cent of the TV station from a joint venture in which he was also a shareholder, ATV said yesterday. However, the move still faces regulatory hurdles, including ownership and residency qualifications.

The transaction means Mr Liu has bought out his former joint-venture partner and ATV chief executive, Feng Xiaoping.

Mr Feng will be replaced as chief executive by Mr Liu's business partner, Chan Wing-kee, a 6.7 per cent shareholder in Today's Asia, which bought the ATV stake for an unspecified amount in cash and shares. Mr Liu owns the other 93.3 per cent.

The deal raised questions about the future editorial direction of ATV. Mr Liu is a former PLA official, while Mr Chan is a member of the National People's Congress.

However, Mr Chan vowed to maintain ATV's editorial independence. 'The news coverage has to be taken very seriously. I have been supportive of freedom of speech and I believe the news quality will improve,' he said.

Mr Liu also appointed close colleague Yu Tungho, head of the marketing division at Phoenix TV, as chief operating officer of ATV.

However, the fact that Mr Liu is not a Hong Kong permanent resident could hobble the deal.

Under broadcasting regulations, a voting controller of a Hong Kong free-to-air TV licensee must be 'ordinarily resident' in the SAR, although the holding of a Hong Kong permanent resident's identity card is not compulsory.

Eddie Cheung Kwok-choi, Principal Assistant Secretary of the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau, said the Government was studying ATV's submission in the light of cross-media ownership and residence requirements.

'We have to find out whether [the new owners] have interests in other forms of media, such as newspapers. But Phoenix TV, which is not a Hong Kong TV service licensee, is not included in the cross-media ownership restriction,' Mr Cheung said.

Today's Asia owns 37.6 per cent of Phoenix TV, which is also part-owned by News Corp.

Dragon Viceroy - the joint venture between Mr Liu and Mr Feng - took control of ATV from Hong Kong media tycoon Lim Por-yen in April, 1998.

Mr Lim, ATV's former major shareholder, last night backed the new leadership. He said he was a long-time friend of Mr Chan, who he described as being full of energy.



Phoenix chief takes control of ATV