Rediffusion Television
Encyclopedia
Rediffusion Television (RTV) was the first television
station in Hong Kong
, established on May 29, 1957, making it both the first British colony
and the first predominantly Chinese
city to have television. It began as a radio station in 1949 and became ATV
on 24 September 1982.
run by the Rediffusion
company. It was known by the Chinese name . The radio service was highly successful with its main competitor Commercial Radio
. Some of the early contents included plays, stories, concerts and Cantonese opera
s. The broadcasts were some of the main attraction in Hong Kong tea shops
. One of the most famous broadcaster was Li Ngaw. The other was Uncle Ray the pioneering DJ.
It later became a subscription cable television station on 29 May 1957 under the Chinese name (pinyin
: li4 de5 ang3 sheng1), thus becoming the first television station in a British Empire
colony
, as well as the first television station in a predominantly Chinese city. It initially offered a four-hour-per-day English language
and Chinese language service. The monthly fee during its launch was HK$
25, which was expensive at the time. Hong Kong tea shops
once again provided an outlet for the broadcasts to the working class who could not afford the subscription fees. When competitor TVB
made its first free-to-air broadcast in 19 November 1967, RTV had 67,000 subscribers. It was renamed Rediffusion Television Limited or RTV on 1 June 1973 when they were granted its free-to-air terrestrial broadcasting license. Cable television broadcasts were ceased thereafter. On 24 September 1982 it was renamed as Asia Television Limited
or ATV
.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
station in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, established on May 29, 1957, making it both the first British colony
British overseas territories
The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories of the United Kingdom which, although they do not form part of the United Kingdom itself, fall under its jurisdiction. They are remnants of the British Empire that have not acquired independence or have voted to remain British territories...
and the first predominantly Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
city to have television. It began as a radio station in 1949 and became ATV
Asia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
on 24 September 1982.
History
Radio Rediffusion was officially founded in 1949 as a highly successful wired radio stationRadio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
run by the Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion, later Rediffusion, London, was the British ITV contractor for London and parts of the surrounding counties, on weekdays between 1954 and 29 July 1968. Transmissions started on 22 September 1955.-Formation:...
company. It was known by the Chinese name . The radio service was highly successful with its main competitor Commercial Radio
Commercial Radio Hong Kong
Commercial Radio Hong Kong , aka Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Limited is one of only two commercial radio broadcasting companies in Hong Kong along with Metro Radio Hong Kong. It contains a balanced array of entertainment including informative, educational, arts and cultural programmes...
. Some of the early contents included plays, stories, concerts and Cantonese opera
Cantonese opera
Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China's Cantonese culture. It is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia. Like all versions of Chinese opera, it is a traditional Chinese art form, involving music, singing,...
s. The broadcasts were some of the main attraction in Hong Kong tea shops
Hong Kong tea culture
The tea-drinking habits of Hong Kong residents derive from Chinese tea culture. After more than 150 years of British rule, however, they have changed somewhat to become unique in the world...
. One of the most famous broadcaster was Li Ngaw. The other was Uncle Ray the pioneering DJ.
It later became a subscription cable television station on 29 May 1957 under the Chinese name (pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: li4 de5 ang3 sheng1), thus becoming the first television station in a British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
colony
Crown colony
A Crown colony, also known in the 17th century as royal colony, was a type of colonial administration of the English and later British Empire....
, as well as the first television station in a predominantly Chinese city. It initially offered a four-hour-per-day English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Chinese language service. The monthly fee during its launch was HK$
Hong Kong dollar
The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
25, which was expensive at the time. Hong Kong tea shops
Hong Kong tea culture
The tea-drinking habits of Hong Kong residents derive from Chinese tea culture. After more than 150 years of British rule, however, they have changed somewhat to become unique in the world...
once again provided an outlet for the broadcasts to the working class who could not afford the subscription fees. When competitor TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
made its first free-to-air broadcast in 19 November 1967, RTV had 67,000 subscribers. It was renamed Rediffusion Television Limited or RTV on 1 June 1973 when they were granted its free-to-air terrestrial broadcasting license. Cable television broadcasts were ceased thereafter. On 24 September 1982 it was renamed as Asia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
or ATV
Asia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
.
See also
- Remembering Rediffusion Hong Kong by Gerald K Clode
- Media in Hong Kong
- Commercial Radio Hong KongCommercial Radio Hong KongCommercial Radio Hong Kong , aka Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Limited is one of only two commercial radio broadcasting companies in Hong Kong along with Metro Radio Hong Kong. It contains a balanced array of entertainment including informative, educational, arts and cultural programmes...