Metro Broadcast Corporation

Metro Broadcast Corporation Ltd.

Type	Private
Industry	Radio broadcasting webcasting
Founded	1990
Headquarters	Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Website	Official website

[[Image:|float|right]] Metro Broadcast Corporation Ltd. (Chinese: 新城廣播有限公司; pinyin: Xīnchéng Guǎngbō Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī) is one of the three broadcasting corporations in Hong Kong, the others being the Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Limited (香港商業電台 Pinyin: Xiānggǎng Shāngyè Diàntái) and Radio Television Hong Kong (香港電台 Pinyin: Xiānggǎng Diàntái). Metro was founded in July 1991 and under the Hong Kong-listed Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited and Hutchison Whampoa Limited now.

Metro Radio Hong Kong consists of 3 radio channels; Metro Finance (FM104), Metro Showbiz (FM99.7) and Metro Plus (AM 1044). These services provide audiences with instantaneous online audio and visual programming. Metro also cooperates with a prominent mobile phone services provider, 3 Mobile, to offer multimedia broadcasting service through mobile phones. In addition, Metro's website offers eSHOP-an online platform for audiences to purchase goods on the internet.

In 2003, Metro was granted a 12-year radio broadcasting license by the Hong Kong Government in accordance with the Telecommunication Ordinance. This is due to expire in 2016.

History

In 1990 the Hong Kong government reformed radio broadcasting regulations, allowing the introduction of a third radio station. It released the license to Metro Radio.

In 1991 Metro Radio set up its headquarters in Site 11 Whampoa Garden Hunghom Kowloon (香港九龍紅磡黃埔花園 第十一期). At that time, Metro Radio had two Chinese channels- channel FM99.7 (勁歌台)and channel FM104 (金曲台) and also one English channel- AM 1044 (Metro News).

In 1996 Metro Radio carried out its first major image reconstruction to publicise a strategic shift of focus from news services to entertainment. This image overhaul was most evident in a few key name changes. The names of channel FM99.7 (勁歌台) and channel FM104 (金曲台) were changed to Hit Radio (新城997) and FM Select (精選104) respectively, and Metro News became Metro Plus. In the same year, personal conflicts between the Metro radio executives boiled over, leading to the resignation of former leader Chan Hoi-kei (陳海琪), and the ascendancy to leadership of Bak wan-kam (白韻琴).

In 1997 due to an expansion, the head office of Metro Radio moved to Basement 2 Site 6 Whampoa Garden Hunghom Kowloon (香港九龍紅磡黃埔花園第六期地庫二層).

In 1998 continuing to make headway with its growing mainstream market, Metro Radio set up another broadcasting station in Central's The Center (中環中心), Hong Kong Island.

In 2001 Metro Radio carried out its second major image reconstruction. On 22 January, it changed Hit Radio (新城997) to Metro Showbiz (新城娛樂台). On 5 February, FM Select (精選104) was renamed Metro Finance (新城財經台).

In 2004 Metro Radio attempted to make headway in the broadcasting market of the Pearl River Delta by entering into a shared programming agreement with Radio GuangDong (廣東電台).

On 2 January 2008, Metro Showbiz was renamed to Metroinfo (新城知訊台). Metroinfo broadcast both entertainment and financial programs.

The CEO of Metro Radio was Kam Kwok-leung (甘國亮)and the director of Metroinfo was Chu Ming-yui (朱明銳) in the past.

Metro finance (FM 104)

Metro Finance started up on 5 February 2001. Metro Finance delivers diverse content relating to investment funds, securities, bonds, insurance and other information relating to financial markets in many places around the world.

Metro Finance World also organizes investment talks throughout the year. The chief executive officers of companies and investment banks or other famous financial commentators are invited to make speeches. For example, Tso, the special column writer of "Investment Diary" in the Hong Kong Economic Journal, is a leading event organizer as well as a keynote speaker in these talks. These events boast a strong turnout, topics aimed at the stockbroker in all of us such as the latest market trends are discussed, as well as investment advice for the audience. The talks are later broadcast by Metro Finance and other medium in China.

Metro Info (FM 99.7)

Metro Showbiz has started broadcasting the latest entertainment news hourly, 24 hours a day since 22 January 2001. While it is metro's M.O to make their form of entertainment news an integral part of every listener's day their ratings and market share prove that they are doing just that in one way or another. Metro Radio has been and continues to be an industry leader in merging news and entertainment, in line with a growing trend in the international news media.

Hit awards

Every year Television Broadcast Limited (TVB), Commercial radio, RTHK and Metro Radio present awards to outstanding singers, composers and authors for outstanding performance in the entertainment industry. Metro Radio holds the Hit Awards annually at the end of December (usually on Boxing Day, i.e. the 26th of December), which is the first award among the four. The Hit Awards gives out more than 100 different awards in categories such as hit singers and hit groups, hit songs, etc. It is Metro Showbiz' biggest event of the year since many of the most popular singers and their fans attend while also attracting widespread media coverage. However, it has been criticized of giving out awards randomly rather than basing on the singers' performance. In 2007, a music label, Gold Label, has boycotted the ceremony due to rumours about their singers going to get only a few awards. It also presents the annual Metro Radio Mandarin Hits Music Awards (新城國語力頒獎禮), around July and August, since 2002.

Metro plus (AM 1044)

As Hong Kong is an international cosmopolitan centre and, Metro plus AM1044 raises its standard to serve a growing international audience. It provides up to date information to listeners such as international news coverage, current affairs, entertainment, music, health, cosmetic trends, jokes and conducts interviews with celebrities. It provides listeners with a wider scope of information from every part of the world through its English channel. The Indonesian Hour, Filipino Hour and Desi Dhamaka are some of the most representational international programs available in the Hong Kong area, catering for the cities' diverse cultural heritage.

Metro Plus has developed many programs for listeners coming from all over the world, this is in line with promoting a more multi-cultural outlook. Due to such an outlook as well as contributions made to society, Metro Plus was awarded “Caring Company 2002/2003” by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS).

See also

• Media in Hong Kong

External links

• Official website
• Metro Plus Programme Schedule
• Metro Info
• Hong Kong Council of Social Service
• Radio GuangDong
• Radio Broadcasting Rules and RegulationsPDF
• Telecommunication OrdinancePDF (48.2 KiB)
• Broadcasting License overview

Source: Pinyin translated by Cozy Website