TVB denies stealing HKTV's ideas

A month after HKTV announced their venture into mobile television, arch nemesis TVB introduced their pay-to-watch internet service, GOTV, South China Morning Post reported.

On 14 January, TVB launched GOTV, a pay-to-watch internet service that allows subscriber to watch past dramas that the company produced since its establishment in 1967.

The launch was deemed as an attack towards Ricky Wong and HKTV, as the latter prepares for the July launch of its mobile TV service that renders viewers with various entertainment programmes and TV series produced by the company through internet-connected devices.

However, TVB General Manager, Cheong Shin Keong denied allegations that they stole Ricky Wong's idea, saying that the company has planned it for two years, though admitting that GOTV would be in indirect competition with HKTV.

He stressed "We are launching pay-to-watch services, not free TV. You may think that because of the timing, but the truth is that it is not."

With a subscription fee of HKD 59 a month (USD 7.61) or HKD 499 a year (USD 644.35), viewers will get to access to about 341 TVB dramas, which will be added gradually, via smart phones, tablets, or computers.

Meanwhile, Cheong revealed that TVB had already sent a letter to HKTV to request a meeting on the matter of the lease of their six transmitting stations, but had not received a reply.

Source: Yahoo! Entertainment