ViuTV: Bringing vitality back to Hong Kong’s TV industry

Reece Chan

In recent years, with the advanced development of digital media like YouTube and Netflix, the surge in digital media correspondingly causes the average time spent with traditional media continue to decline, including television. While Television Broadcasts Ltd (TVB), the TV industry goliath, is seen to be struggling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, ViuTV has translated pandemic social distancing measures into an audience gain. Indeed, ViuTV has broken the widely held belief in Hong Kong viewers' rigid habit of tuning into TVB irrespective of other available choices, and snatching viewers from TVB's bread-and-butter variety shows and drama series. How does ViuTv the perennial underdog bring back vitality to Hong Kong’s TV industry?

To discuss ViuTV’s success, one must mention the success of its variety shows. The three seasons of reality competition show King Maker, inspired by the K-pop star search series Produce 101, which has helped it scout and groom a clutch of young idols. 12-member boy band Mirror with members originated from the first season of the show, has been reinvigorating the Canto-pop scene and breathing life into Hong Kong’s entertainment and fashion world, creating an unique and huge fandom that hasn’t been seen in the city for some time. That’s the moment when I witnessed the power of TV show, causing vigorous and alacritous changes in society. I identify myself as one of their fangirls as well. Mirror has reflected a distinct Hong Kong nature that is distinguishable with other K-pop acts, and its aggressively uplifting songs have provided us an escape from the recent political upheaval. Its committed viewers would watch their favorite programs on ViuTV featuring Mirror at a certain broadcast time, which has given the public hot and juicy topics to discuss on.

King Maker

Mirror - popular boy band in Hong Kong

Apart from ViuTV's young idols' strong audience attracting power, the content of their variety shows and drama series are interesting and appealing to younger viewers like me. Compared to TVB’s more or less predictable and unamusing shows, ViuTV outdoes its rival by keep surprising audiences with innovative ideas. ViuTV has been experimental with different genres of drama series (each around 20 episodes), such as Ossan's Love (HK version; rom-com of gay men), We Are the Littles (sports drama of passionate volleyball players striving to make it to the Nationals) and Leap Day (sci-fri rom-com), which are unpredecented in HK television history. Those contents are mesmerizing to the young generation as ViuTV’s screenwriters are able to follow the current trends like sexuality, utopian fantasy and passionate youth, in contrast with the TVB shows with formulaic and recurring storylines.

Ossan's Love

Leap Day

With its creative ideas and going against the traditional values, ViuTV has brought back the hype for Hong Kong TV shows among Hong Kong people by rendering TV shows taking up bigger parts of our lives. The shows produced by ViuTV had become one of the most discussed topics between me and my friends, even my colleagues, thus bringing back the water cooler culture.