Hong Kong artist Chan Baixiang, during an interview on November 10, declared that the market value of TVB (Television Broadcasts Limited) has plummeted to around HKD 900 million, branding the network as a “small company.” He expressed that TVB can no longer afford his salary.
At 75 years old, Chan Baixiang, who announced his retirement from acting in 2022, has since created accounts on various social media platforms in Mainland China, such as Xiaohongshu, to share short videos of his daily life and personal experiences, thus maintaining his popularity and engaging with fans. He frequently leads a celebrity football team to participate in commercial friendly matches and events in Mainland China, drawing some former TVB artists to participate in performances alongside him.
Recently, Chan sparked heated discussions after publicly criticizing TVB’s fundraising program titled “Cannot Afford Big Name Artists.” According to reports, on November 10, while attending a banquet and being interviewed, he continued to speak boldly, openly stating that TVB has fallen far behind Mainland giants like Tencent, and that its market capitalization has dwindled to a mere HKD 900 million, identifying it as merely a “small company.”
When asked if TVB executives had contacted him following his comments about the program “Cannot Afford Big Name Artists,” Chan responded, “It’s useless even if they call me!” When a reporter inquired further if it was because he didn’t answer their calls, he clarified, “Not really, I can’t help them! They can’t even afford my salary! The fee I now receive for hosting an event equals what I used to earn from filming an entire movie. Do you know that? My income for one performance now is equivalent to shooting a whole film back then! My remuneration at TVB was the highest! How can they pay me now? This is no longer the past!”
Chan further emphasized that although stars like Aaron Kwok and Jacky Cheung originated from TVB, not paying competitive salaries means that it would be futile to try and bring them back for performances.
When questioned whether he was concerned that his remarks might offend his former employer, Chan countered, “Why should I be afraid of them being upset? I’m only stating facts, and I want to help them. How could they possibly be angry? My intention is to remind and motivate them.”
Regarding whether he would consider stepping in to help TVB regain viewership, Chan remarked that he currently holds a retirement mindset and humorously pointed out that his perspective differs greatly from that of his old friend, Eric Tsang. “I can’t save them; I’ve already said they can’t afford me! Tsang likes to work, but I don’t enjoy it. What matters to me is the compensation! Therefore, I can’t accept those activities that don’t pay. For my team to play a match, the fees are six, seven, or even eight figures. It’s just not the same!”
Chan also reflected on his past achievements at TVB: “I worked there for several decades, and after joining, I boosted viewership and ad revenue by several percentage points. When I was at TVB, the average viewership for shows was around 30. Have you seen any TVB program hit over 20 recently? I’m talking about average viewership, and that’s from the entire year!”
Following the broadcast of this interview, it stirred up significant discussions, which were polarized. While many listeners agreed with his candid depiction of the industry’s truth, others questioned his seemingly arrogant and self-righteous attitude.
Numerous long-time viewers of Hong Kong dramas and variety shows resonated with Chan’s observations, believing that today’s large TVB productions and fundraising events indeed lack the star power of yesteryears and suffer from a deficit of familiar faces. However, because Chan frequently highlighted his status as receiving the highest pay at TVB, having a yearly average viewership of 30 points, and claiming that one event now equals an entire movie’s earnings, many netizens on platforms like Facebook criticized him for boasting, labeling him as “always showing off” and suggesting he lacks emotional intelligence.
Critics have argued that after facing setbacks in the Mainland performance market, Chan has returned to Hong Kong to seek relevance. They suggest that the television landscape has shifted, and comparing the viewership from thirty years ago to the contemporary media environment is not a fair assessment. His comments seem to place the current management, including Eric Tsang, who transitioned from TVB’s general manager to head of the advisory council, in a somewhat awkward situation.
Known as “A-Lai,” Chan Baixiang has navigated the Hong Kong entertainment industry for decades, characterized by his vivid and often controversial personality. His nickname “A-Lai” originated from a role he played in a television series, and it has since become synonymous with his boastful and competitive traits. Despite experiencing numerous ups and downs in life, whether in horse racing, football, or his artistic and business endeavors, he consistently positions himself at the top, openly declaring that he “wins at whatever he does.” This intense sense of self-affirmation serves as his source of resilience but also leads some viewers to perceive him as arrogant.