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Good news! TVB officially announced the four major Taiwan celebration dramas for the 57th anniversary, and there are good dramas to watch!
TVB's return to light or nirvana's rebirth? -- The dilemma and breakthrough of Hong Kong television
The recent announcement of TVB's 57th anniversary Taiwan celebration drama has sparked a lot of discussions, from "News Queen" to "Black Moonlight", which seems to make people see signs of TVB's recovery. But behind this excitement, there is a deeper anxiety: is this a return to the light, or is it a real rebirth of Nirvana?
Let's take a look at this list of Taiwanese celebration dramas: "Corporate Strongman", "Black Moonlight", "The Cliff of Women and Heroes", and "Clean Government Action". The themes cover business wars, suspense, history, police and bandits, which seem to be diverse, but in fact they expose the creative bottleneck of TVB. Business warfare, police and bandits have always been TVB's forte, but innovation is insufficient, and it is easy to fall into routines. The classic IP sequels such as "Women and Heroes" and "Clean Government Action" carry a strong suspicion of "fried cold rice", and the audience's expectations and doubts coexist.
As mentioned in the article, the biggest problem facing TVB is the talent gap. Hua Dan is young, and still relies on veterans such as Charmaine Sheh and Yang Yi to support the scene. Although Zhong Jiaxin is rumored to be making a comeback, this is more like drinking to quench his thirst and cannot fundamentally solve the problem. Let's ask, a 50-year-old Ma Guoming is still carrying the banner, and a soon-to-be-50-year-old Charmaine Sheh is still fighting on the front line, is this TVB's honor or TVB's sorrow?
This dilemma did not happen overnight. After Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the mainland's entertainment industry flourished, and a large number of talents and funds poured in, which had a huge impact on Hong Kong's television industry. According to data from CSM Media Research, the average viewership of mainland TV dramas in 2022 was 0.5%, while the average viewership of Hong Kong TVB was only around 0.2%. [Data source: CSM Media Research] This is not only a digital gap, but also a trade-off in market share and influence.
To add insult to injury, the rise of streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney+ has further squeezed the living space of traditional TV. Audiences are choosing more and more, and the requirements for content quality are getting higher and higher. TVB sticks to the traditional production model and broadcast method, lacks the awareness and ability to integrate with new media, and is gradually left behind by the times.
So, does TVB still have a chance to turn over? The answer is: yes, but radical reform is necessary.
First of all, it is necessary to intensify the training of young talents. TVB once had a brilliant artist training class system, and cultivated a generation of superstars such as Chow Yun-fat and Andy Lau. Today, the system is aging and needs to be reinvigorated. It is advisable to learn from Korea's trainee model, establish a more systematic and professional training system, and tap and cultivate more potential new talents.
Second, we must embrace new media and actively explore new business models. TVB can no longer stick to traditional TV broadcast platforms, and must actively cooperate with mainland video websites and streaming media platforms to expand content distribution channels. At the same time, we can try to develop more emerging content forms such as short dramas and micro-dramas that are suitable for online communication. For example, TVB's cooperation with Youku "White Strongman 2" has achieved good broadcast volume and word of mouth, which proves that TVB's content is still attractive, and the key is how to find a suitable way to disseminate it.
Thirdly, it is necessary to improve the level of content creation and create more high-quality dramas. TVB used to be known for its excellent scripts, superb acting skills and excellent production. Today, these advantages are gradually being lost. To revive the glory of TVB, we must return to the concept that content is king, increase investment in script creation, invite more excellent screenwriters and directors to join, and create more high-quality dramas that can resonate with the audience.
Take the recent hit "Black Moonlight" as an example, although it was accused of plagiarizing the Korean drama "Dark Glory", its fast-paced plot and excellent performances of the actors still attracted many audiences. This shows that as long as you create with your heart, TVB still has the ability to produce high-level dramas.
Finally, TVB needs to rethink its positioning. The golden age of Hong Kong TV has passed, and TVB is no longer the only hegemon. Instead of indulging in the glory of the past, it is better to actively adapt to the new market environment and find a new direction of development. For example, you can deeply cultivate Hong Kong's local culture and create dramas with regional characteristics; It is also possible to strengthen cooperation with the mainland and jointly develop film and television works for the global market.
TVB's future path is challenging, but not hopeless. As one veteran TV commentator put it, "TVB is like an old boxer, although he is past his prime, he still has a wealth of experience and skills." As long as you find the right opponent and strategy, you still have a chance to get back to the center of the ring. [Source: Hong Kong Wen Wei Po]
TVB's 57th anniversary Taiwan celebration drama is not so much a celebration as a reflection. This is not only the dilemma of TVB, but also the dilemma of the Hong Kong TV industry. I hope that TVB can seize this opportunity to carry out a thorough reform and rejuvenate itself. Otherwise, what awaits it may really be the bleak ending after the "return to the light".
Do you think TVB will be able to successfully transform? Where is it heading in the future? This is a question worth pondering.