Radio boss is wrong to think his style is outdated, says the terminated host
Senior executives of Commercial Radio had been trying to tone down Albert Cheng Kong-hon's style for two years before deciding to terminate his contract, the outspoken radio host said.
Cheng, who was yesterday still finalising the legal details of the early termination of his contract with the radio station, said Commercial Radio director Winnie Yu had been telling him over the past two years that there had been a change in the values held by Hong Kong people.
'She said the public desires harmony and reconciliation,' Cheng said. 'Perhaps the management of Commercial Radio thought that the confrontational approach had become outdated. That's the message I got as a participant in the operation of the radio station,' he said.
'That is not in line with the expectations of Hong Kong people, who want radio talk shows to serve as channels to vent their anger and dissatisfaction.'
Cheng, known for his sensational hosting style, said he did not see Ms Yu's remarks as an order or instruction.
When Ms Yu revealed on Wednesday that negotiations for an early settlement of Cheng's contract were in progress, she said that the station wanted to move away from what she termed emotional appeal to rationality. She also said that by running away one after another, programme hosts were themselves undermining freedom of expression.
