TVB to Slash 350 Jobs

TVB starts retrenching staff in a “restructuring move” with producers, scriptwriters and other production crew bearing the brunt.

On December 21, TVB CEO Mark Lee (李宝安) issued an internal statement to staff which informed that 10 percent of non-artiste employees will be retrenched, affecting about 350 people.

While TVB did not reveal the total figures and departments the retrenched workers belonged to, Mark Lee summarized in the statement, “The ongoing Hong Kong protests have badly affected the economy. As the forecast is less than ideal and matters show no signs of abating, we cannot predict when stability will resume and the economy will recover, thus the company has announced restructuring. In order to keep operations sustainable, among 3500 non-artiste employees, about 10 percent will be affected, who will receive legal compensation including payment in lieu of notice and gratuity handouts.”

TVB, the largest free-to-air broadcaster in Hong Kong started notifying affected staff on the eve of Winter Solstice or Dongzhi festival, traditionally a get-together occasion.

Variety and Infotainment Department Most Affected

According to news, Assistant General Manager (non-drama) Sandy Yu’s (余詠珊) variety and infotainment department is the most critically affected with over 50  members laid off, which included producers as well as the director, scriptwriter, editors, assistant directors and research writers of the entertainment news program Scoop <东张西望>. Leung Kim Hang (梁儉恆), producer of Bazaar Carnivals <街市游乐团> and The Green Room<今日VIP>, as well as Edgar Wong (黃中濠) were also not spared.

The producer of Big City Shop <流行都市>, Chiu Lai Ping (赵丽平), who had previously retired and then had his contract renewed, was also affected by the layoff. Among others retrenched include Big Boys Club <兄弟帮> producer Kent Gor (谢英伟).

There was talk that Sandy Yu had targeted those who worked at the station for many years, but spared her ex-colleagues from Asia Television.

Artistes’ Reaction to Layoffs

Office Work HD Video
Office Work HD Video

Liza Wang (汪明荃), who was present at a performance starring her husband Law Kar Ying (罗家英), said she did not hear any rumors about Charles Chan (陈国强) stepping down as the CEO of TVB. “It’s only rumors, but to manage a company you need to consider many factors, calculate operating costs and advertising revenue and report to the shareholders on many matters. Given the poor economic situation in Hong Kong, I hope the various industries will not resort to large-scale retrenchment. Companies should take care of workers and retain them as much as possible.”

As for Bob Lam (林盛斌) who hosted the last episode of Big Boys Club recently, he felt unhappy about the show’s producer Kent Gor getting retrenched, and said that many producers he knew had been affected.

Evergreen Mak ( 麥長青), who had worked with the producer of Bazaar Carnivals and had already left the station himself, said that society is ever-evolving and all things come to an end. But to receive this news during year-end would make many feel helpless, as some would not have back-up savings. Adding that many of his friends who were shop owners had to wind down their operations which were no longer sustainable, leading to many being unemployed, he hoped the phenomenon was only a passing phase. Evergreen felt that it was necessary for Hong Kongers to unite and exercise mutual understanding to survive this tough period. When asked if his move to ViuTV was a timely one, he replied that he did not have this train of thought as “There would be no Evergreen Mak without TVB.”

Source: Netease

This article is written by JoyceK for JayneStars.com.

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Responses

  1. Good, I can’t wait until TVB folds.

    TVB is like Blockbuster. You stop innovating. You die. Good riddance.

  2. I feel bad for those who got laid off especially at year end and a tough economy. Hoping they find better opportunities elsewhere, I am not a big fan of TVB treatments toward the artists, and their lack of innovation and creativity, so i don’t feel bad that they have to reach this stage.

  3. Sorry to the ones who are losing their jobs before the Lunar New Year…. TVB should just close up shop if all they care about is reporting profits to their shareholders. It’s evident they give no shts about TV production.

  4. Better to end it now than get to the point that ATV did, where they couldn’t even pay their employees anymore (what’s worse was that they owed their staff months of back pay, which in other places, could actually land the execs in jail— too bad HK’s labor laws suck). I feel sorry for those who will lose their jobs, but if they have talent and ability, it won’t be too hard to find work since there are more options now.

  5. Hopefully TVB can figure out a way to not just sustain itself but also disrupt the norm. If TVB folds, there really isn’t any other major Cantonese tv station left and the HK entertainment industry as well as the HK culture will take a hit.

  6. TVB is truly sinking ship. I am shocked they actually lasted this long. Will they shut down like ATV did?

  7. TVB should stop blaming the protestor. TVB released a report stating that the viewership (on all platform) increased but profit went down. This was because of their failed investment in China. There’s no more creativity in TVB, have to make their drama to suit mainland taste and according to their gov TnC. Poeple watched it because its HK production with HK flavor. No point watching it if they wanna be CCTVB, china’s production is much better. Trying to bring back Jacqueline Wong to divert the attention is really stupid, coz no one care. Variety shows are very much restricted, have to follow PRC guideline. And some actor coming out pissing on the protestor doesn’t help at all. HK entertainment is coming to an end, which is good rather than producing garbage for so many years.

  8. At least a few years ago although going downhill there were a few series which were decent enough and veterans like Wayne, Moses and Bobby still carried a bit of charisma to be excited about. Now it’s 100% crap and plenty of other production companies can produce web series for freelance actors/actresses which exceeds TVB.

  9. TVB has been slashing hundreds of job every year for the past few years if you’ve been following this site.

    The writing has been on the wall for awhile now.

    TVB lacks an identity. They don’t make dramas for the local market in fear of falling profit from the mainland market. So they focus on China but their products lacks the budget, the creativity, the production value that mainland production companies have, and they have more resources.

    They are on a crossroad where they have an identity crisis where they aren’t good enough for China but they don’t connect to the Hong Kong audience either.

    Just close up already.

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