A row over free-television licences has given renewed impetus to a battle among ATV shareholders, with Taiwanese tycoon Tsai Eng-meng accusing the broadcaster of mismanagement and risking its licence.
Tsai's company, San Want Media Holdings, sought leave from the High Court yesterday to apply for the appointment of an independent supervisor to the station's board of directors.
In his submission, Tsai said he was unhappy with "messy management" that landed the broadcaster in the news every few days.
Mr Justice Aarif Barma, in the Court of First Instance, said there was an "arguable case" and allowed Tsai's application. Tsai will now apply for Antenna Investment, which he owns jointly with Payson Cha Mou-sing and Johnson Cha Mou-daid, to appoint an independent adviser to ATV. A date for the next hearing was not set.
San Want condemned major investor Wong Ching and his relative James Shing Pan-yu, ATV's executive director, for mismanaging the station.
It also accused the pair of trying to keep other stakeholders out of the company's affairs.