Hong Kong Cable Television
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cable television |
| Predecessor | Wharf Cable Television Limited |
| Founded | June 30, 1993 in Hong Kong |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
Area served | Hong Kong |
Key people | Henry Cheng Kar-Chun (major shareholder) |
| Products | Pay-TV services, free-to-air channels (Hong Kong International Business Channel, HOY TV) |
| Owner | Forever Top (Asia) Limited |
| Parent | i-Cable Communications |
| Website | i-cable |
Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (), previously known as Wharf Cable Television Limited () until 31 October 1998, operates as a cable TV provider in Hong Kong. The company is owned by Forever Top (Asia) Limited and functions under the management of i-Cable Communications. Established as the second cable television operator in the region, it was incorporated on 30 June 1993 and commenced services on 31 October of the same year, initially offering over 100 subscription channels, with 54 channels managed internally.
History
Originally incorporated in June 1993 under the name Wharf Cable Television (), the firm began its cable broadcast operations with a launch officiated by Governor Chris Patten. At inception, it provided eight channels, including the pioneering 24-hour Cantonese news channel, a global first.
The company underwent rebranding to Hong Kong Cable Television () on 31 October 1998. Subsequently, it was publicly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1999 through i-Cable Communications.
Boasting the largest subscriber count among Hong Kong’s pay-TV providers, HKCTV was recognized as one of the top five local media enterprises. In 2004, i-CABLE Communications reported revenue of HK$2,372 million alongside a net profit of HK$296 million.
In February 2023, Cable TV declared its intention to return its pay-TV licenses to the Hong Kong government ahead of schedule by six years. This decision was influenced by intensified competition from rivals such as Now TV, TVB's MyTV SUPER, and streaming services including Netflix and Disney+. The cessation of pay-TV operations took effect on 1 June 2023. Following this, the company redirected its focus toward its three free-to-air channels: Hong Kong International Business Channel, HOY TV, and .
Ownership
In 2017, Forever Top (Asia) Limited completed the acquisition of i-Cable. Later in 2021, Henry Cheng Kar-Chun, chairman of New World Development, expanded his investment in i-Cable by acquiring shares from David Chiu Tat-cheong, chairman of Far East Consortium, through Cheng’s entity Celestial Pioneer. This transaction increased Celestial Pioneer’s stake in Forever Top from 31.5% to 72%, positioning it as the principal shareholder.
Controversy
During December 2020, i-Cable TV dismissed no fewer than 40 personnel comprising journalists, editors, and production staff, notably terminating the entire investigative journalism team behind News Lancet. While management attributed these layoffs to cost-cutting measures, the Hong Kong Journalists' Association interpreted them as attempts to limit reporting on sensitive issues, particularly in light of News Lancet’s critical coverage of law enforcement and governmental bodies in 2019.