City BeatA question of tactics for Ricky Wong … and the government

When Ricky Wong Wai-kay named November 19 as HKTV's launch date, the underlying messages were obvious: it was both a challenge to the city's most influential broadcaster, TVB, and a hot potato in the lap of the government. More precisely, it is Chief Executive Leung Chung-ying who must decide next year whether to grant Wong a free-to-air broadcasting licence at last.

Offering further food for thought was the appearance of Commerce Minister Greg So Kam-leung beside Wong at the launch ceremony on Wednesday. The rare scene was a far cry from the protests that greeted the government's decision to reject HKTV's first licence bid last year. Was this a courtesy call, or an effort by both sides to mend the relationship?

Wong denied choosing the date of TVB's anniversary celebration in an attempt to steal his rival's thunder. Interestingly, TVB also dismissed the competition, reflecting the reality: TVB is a free-to-air terrestrial broadcaster; HKTV is an online entertainment-cum-shopping platform.

Thus, we return to the thorny issue of Wong's licence bid. Wong was the only one of three applicants last year to have his bid rejected by the government. That led to protests by those who wanted more competition, but the affair damaged Wong's relations with the government.

The government reiterated that Wong's application was rejected not on political grounds but due to a problematic business plan; Wong believed it was all to do with politics.

Government sources revealed that Wong had proposed launching more than 30 channels, causing concern he could not produce enough content and would sub-let some of the channels. One possible taker? Next Media boss and arch-critic of Beijing Jimmy Lai Chee-ying. It was that business model that was said to have doomed Wong's application. Wong later denied ever discussing the idea with Lai.