ATV announces HK$1 billion in financial losses from TV ratings; TVB takes legal action

Yesterday afternoon, ATV held a press conference to attack TVB back on the TV rating war. At the press conference, ATV stated that in the past when they had CSM do their viewership research, they suffered great financial losses. It is estimated that the financial losses is HK$1 billion.

Following TVB, CSM and HK's Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies statement strongly criticizing ATV for their false accusations, TVB Foreign Affairs Director Tsang Sing Ming expressed that after TVB and CSM Media Research's meeting, it was decided that TVB will be issuing a legal letter to ATV to get their justice back.

Yesterday ATV Executives and investors directed the press conference and had the broad member of HK Film Awards, Lee Siu Ha (2009-2011) to support them. ATV describes yesterday as "Black Wednesday", he expressed that Hong Kong TV Advertisement profits about HK$3 billion, hence the estimated figure of financial losses. If there is evidence of fabricated TV ratings, it will become a legal case.

As if ATV will take further action? ATV expressed: "We will not let someone punch us a few times and not fight back. We retain our professional character." Back then Princess Pearl and Who Wants to be a Millionaire received favorable ratings, but today when there are poor ratings, ATV seeks another survey company. By this, there is a sense of a 'sore loser' feeling. ATV said: "Back then we had Neilson company do our surveying. Although it is possible that our current programs aren't as good, still we will not be a loser. Before the contract wasn't over yet, so we suffered in silence. Since last year, the contracted ended, so we started looking for another company. At the time we had a lot of criticisms, and whenever there was a new program aired, they will always say we have low ratings."

Source: Mingpao
Translated by: aZnangel @ AsianEU