The ultimate controller of embattled Asia Television is becoming clear after Taiwanese snack-food tycoon Tsai Eng-meng had the Hot Kid trademark of his Want Want Group printed on the name cards of senior staff at the station. The cards are in circulation as the broadcaster prepares to celebrate its 52nd anniversary on Friday. Media Eye previously reported that the ATV management was considering putting one of Mr Tsai's company logos on the cards to show the new shareholder's influence at the broadcaster. At the time, a spokesman said such a move was sensitive, as it could be linked to control of the broadcaster. Now it appears that ATV is being treated like a member of Mr Tsai's Want Want Group of companies, even if he holds only a 30 per cent stake in the broadcaster. The new name card has the Hot Kid logo down the left-hand side, the ATV logo in the middle and the Chinese word for 'Want' in the bottom right-hand corner. The design is similar to the one used by Mr Tsai's China Times Group in Taiwan, which changed its name card earlier this year to reflect Want Want's control. Mr Tsai's stake in ATV comes through his substantial holding in Alnery, which controls 47.58 per cent of the broadcaster. Alnery is jointly owned by Payson Cha Mou-sing's family, ATV's dominant stakeholder, and former ATV chief executive Louis Page. Mr Tsai is disqualified from taking voting control of the broadcaster on domestic nationality grounds. That right belongs to the Cha family. However, Mr Tsai's influence at ATV is apparent, especially after the appointment of former Taiwan film star Nancy Hu as the chief executive. Personal agenda Mr Tsai, who has been in the snack food industry for more than 30 years, has transformed himself into a media tycoon since November last year by acquiring China Times, which has two newspapers and two television stations in Taiwan, and by becoming a substantial shareholder in ATV. A book about his business life is due out next month. The Taiwanese publisher had hoped it would hit the streets this month, but government approval for Mr Tsai's acquisition of the China Times television stations is still being processed. His media ambitions are driven by his experience in business on the mainland and his desire that Taiwanese should know more about their cross-strait neighbours. 'Mr Tsai does have his agenda. He wants to provide the information he believes Taiwan people should know,' a source told Media Eye. 'It should not be treated as political influence from the mainland, or pro-Kuomintang or pro-Democratic Progressive Party, but as his own personal feelings.' Meanwhile, for Hong Kong viewers, Mr Tsai's influence at ATV will bring more Taiwanese-style programmes such as comedy. Palpable presence Mr Tsai and his son kept a low profile at the Asia Television Cup Racing Day at Sha Tin last Sunday. But the tycoon's influence was still felt, with guests at the host's reception receiving packs of Want Want rice crackers, just like the shareholders who attended Want Want's annual general meeting last month.
