A LONG-RUNNING dispute between ATV and STAR TV was resolved yesterday after both parties agreed their previous programme supply deal was unfair.
Under the new agreement, ATV will continue to provide Chinese programming to the pan-Asian satellite network, but it will now have the right to sell those programmes to other regional TV networks as well.
Previously STAR had exclusive rights to all programmes provided by ATV, which meant the terrestrial broadcaster sometimes kept back its best programmes in order to sell them later.
The move creates a strong front against broadcaster TVB, which has become the main competitor of both networks.
STAR TV said in a statement that the previous arrangement made in 1991 had been cancelled and another three-year deal had been made for ATV to provide more than 1,000 hours a year of dramas, non-dramas and special programmes for broadcast on STAR.
The new arrangements also include a co-operation agreement of more than 40 hours of high-quality drama a year to be broadcast simultaneously on ATV in the original Cantonese, and on STAR in Mandarin.
