Hong Kong protests spur increase in YouTube political commentary channels
- Politicians, media personalities tap Hongkongers’ hunger for views on social unrest
- Sharp rise in viewership since protests began helps one presenter attract ad revenue
A growing number of personalities have taken to YouTube to share their views on Hong Kong news and politics since anti-government protests began last June.
About a dozen have started their own programmes on the video-sharing digital platform, joining about 30 others who have been active since the pro-democracy Occupy protests shut down parts of the city for 79 days in 2014.
The newcomers include Alan Leong Kah-kit, chairman of the pro-democracy Civic Party, as well as retired journalist Kwan Hing-ning and advertising industry employee Ivan Mok Ka-kit, a pro-establishment candidate who was defeated in last November’s district council elections.
Many have attracted a growing following, reflecting the demand for insights into the social unrest that has plagued Hong Kong for nearly eight months.
“We’ve noted a huge demand for views of opinion leaders since the anti-government crisis started in June,” said Lau Sai-leung, a writer who served as an adviser to the Central Policy Unit from 2006 to 2012.
He started his online radio website, Singjai.com, in June 2014 but saw the audience for his current affairs programme, Loudzone, rise sharply over the past seven months.