2010 TVB monopoly case

The2010 TVB monopoly case(Chinese:Lũng đoạn sự kiện) is a case surroundingHong Kongtelevision stationTelevision Broadcasts Limitedbeing amonopolystation.

Background

Further information:TVBully

For a long timeATV,the main free over-the-air rival station, have been associated as a pro-Beijing station.This has allowed TVB to gain a substantial lead in ratings and market share. The 2009 Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority forum however, led to complaints about TVB also practicingself-censorship.Since then, major issues of monopoly have come up.

In a 2009 press conferenceHKRIAannounced that they would increase royalty tax to TVB exceedingHK$10 million for music programs. TVB then banned singers fromEMI Group,Sony Music,Universal MusicandWarner Music Groupfrom participating on the2009 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentationshow.

Case & complaints

• TVB imposed unwritten restrictions on artists and singers that deprived ATV an opportunity to hire artists.According toSing Tao Daily,in the past no music company was willing to use contracts (between TVB and the artists) as evidence against TVB.For example, if a HK artist was interviewed by competing station likeCable TV Hong Kong,they were forced to speakMandarin.This gave TVB an advantage as HK is mostly a Cantonese-speaking territory.
• Some of the bestRTHKproductions were broadcast exclusively on TVB only.
• Many complaints were brought up about singers and artists having to sign contracts to be restricted to TVB. Some cannot appear in other competing stations at all.

Entertainer responses

Some bands likeMrhave come out and responded it was better to be doing interviews in Cantonese because their Mandarin skill was not so good.Other artists likeKelly Chensaid it would benefit all if music videos could be broadcast on all stations.Jacky Cheungsaid TVB never had enough time available for music shows. In the past he could appear onJade Solid Goldand sing for 3 minutes, but now he is limited to 1 minute. He further added that "TVB should just support the people they sign. Currently they have total control, and when they don't get what they want, they talk about whom to kill off."Artists who have tried to avoid legal disputes with TVB would simply turn down invitations to appear on rival stations.

Aftermath

Ascandal probewas made by theICAConStephen Chan Chi Wanin early 2010.