Stephen Chan Chi-wan
Stephen Chan Chi-wan | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 12, 1959 |
| Occupation(s) | Media executive, commentator, YouTuber |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Known for | Chief Advisor at Commercial Radio Hong Kong, former CEO of Commercial Radio Hong Kong, former general manager of TVB |
Stephen Chan Chi-wan (born 12 December 1959) currently serves as the Chief Advisor at Commercial Radio Hong Kong and is a prominent commentator on YouTube. He formerly held the positions of CEO at Commercial Radio Hong Kong and general manager at Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). On 9 December 2011, Chan declared his intention to step down as general manager, with his departure effective in April 2013.
Education
Chan completed his studies in linguistics and theatre at the University of Hong Kong, earning his degree in 1981.
Before TVB
Chan’s professional journey began as an Administrative Officer within the Hong Kong government, working alongside peers such as Edward Yau. He dedicated four years in London campaigning for the right of abode for residents of Hong Kong. Upon returning in 1991, he took on the role of assistant commissioner at the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority and concurrently worked part-time as a disc jockey at RTHK, where he was recognized by the nickname "Wai Ka Ching (Vulgar Chan)".
Tenure at TVB
Following a two-year period at Commercial Radio Hong Kong, Chan joined TVB in 1992 as Programme Controller, later assuming additional responsibility as Controller (External Affairs) in 1995. He was elevated to Assistant General Manager in 2001 and then advanced to general manager of broadcasting in 2004. His public profile increased notably with the debut of Be My Guest in 2006, a program featuring interviews with prominent Hong Kong personalities.
Chan also took on production of the environmental documentary Vanishing Glacier (台慶鉅獻: 冰天動地), which involved filming in the Arctic alongside celebrities like Sammul Chan and Bernice Liu to raise awareness about the effects of global warming.
He left TVB in December 2011 to pursue further education abroad.
Career at CRHK
On 4 March 2013, Chan was named CEO of Commercial Radio Hong Kong. He transitioned to the position of principal adviser on 11 February 2015.
Digital presence
In April 2020, Chan launched his own YouTube channel, Stephen Talks (志雲頻道stephenchannel), offering content such as celebrity interviews, musical performances, and talk shows. He became well-known for providing insights on Hong Kong’s news, political developments, lifestyle trends, and global affairs. By 2022, his channel had attracted 259K subscribers.
Chan has expressed critical views regarding Hong Kong’s entertainment sector, especially local television. He observed that "the age of television is behind us," attributing this shift to the emergence of new media platforms and underscored the necessity for competition within the limited market to ensure ongoing development. In an interview with Ming Pao, he stated that while maximizing income is not his primary goal, advertising revenue adequately funds the variety of content produced for his talk show. In 2021, he ranked eighth among Hong Kong’s leading content creator channels.
Personal life
Originally weighing around 90 kg, Chan achieved a slimmer physique after adopting a vegetarian lifestyle.[1][2]
Legal proceedings
On 11 March 2010, Chan was detained by the ICAC along with his personal assistant and three other employees from TVB. Those arrested included Wilson Chan Wing-suen, Wilson Chin Kwok-wai, Ning Jin, and Edthancy Tseng Pei-kun.[3] TVB acknowledged that three staff members were implicated and suspended them pending investigation.[4] On 16 September 2010, formal charges were filed against Chan for corruption and conspiracy to defraud TVB.[5]
In November 2010, some allegations against Chan were dropped while inquiries into bribery and conspiracy persisted. He returned to his duties at TVB on 16 November but was excluded from responsibilities related to artist management and casting.[6]
Although acquitted alongside Tseng in trials held in 2011 and 2013 respectively, they were convicted in October 2015 on bribery charges involving a HK$112,000 payment from Olympian City mall routed through Tseng’s company.[7] Their convictions were overturned by the Court of Final Appeal in March 2017.[8]
References
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ The Standard (HK). "Show graft" The Standard. Retrieved on 12 March 2010.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). (subscription required)
- ↑ Secretary for Justice v Chan Chi Wan, Stephen
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