The name "Asia" clearly reveals its ambitions! Can Kobayashi Tianwang carve out a niche in the fiercely competitive Hong Kong television industry and recreate his newspaper miracle?
Is his ambition to "base himself in Hong Kong, with an eye on Asia" a grand vision or simply unrealistic? This newspaper will continue to monitor this. Sir Run Run Shaw has yet to respond.
It can be said that Mr. Jin Yong was in a good mood and naturally did not hesitate to help Ming Pao promote Kobayashi Tenwang from a fair perspective.
However, in contrast, the Sing Tao Daily, which has always been at odds with Kobayashi Tenmo, was not so easy to deal with.
"Sing Tao Daily's front page: 'Midnight Storm! ATV's sudden demise, Asia Television's birth! Kobayashi Tenmo stirs up another storm!'"
[Our News] Hong Kong was shocked! At midnight yesterday, CATV, less than three years after its launch, suddenly announced a change of ownership!
The acquirer was Kobayashi Holdings Co., Ltd., which is controlled by Japanese tycoon Tenmo Kobayashi. The new owner immediately announced that the TV station would be renamed "Asia Television Co., Ltd." (ATV)!
This news was like thunder from a clear sky, instantly shaking the entire city! According to reliable sources, Kobayashi Tenwang's acquisition had been long in the making, and the move was swift and decisive. Jiayi's former major shareholder, Mr. Lin Xiufeng, declined to comment.
Since taking control of Hong Kong Land, Kobayashi Tenmo has made such a lavish move into the television industry. His financial strength and expansionary ambitions have already caught the attention of Hong Kong's business community. Can Asia Television, under his leadership, rise from the ashes and break the duopoly of TVB and Rediffusion?
Is the era of a three-way competition in Hong Kong's television industry approaching? The industry is generally taking a wait-and-see approach. Veterans in the television industry say that acquisitions are easy, but operations are difficult, and Kobayashi Tenmo will face severe challenges.
According to analysis by senior financial experts consulted by this newspaper overnight, Kobayashi Tenwang's acquisition is highly likely to result in a total loss. Jiayi Television was already on the brink of bankruptcy, and Kobayashi Tenwang's acquisition is definitely a step into the fire pit.
Similarly, Oriental Daily, which was suppressed by Asia Daily, would not miss such a good opportunity to criticize Kobayashi Tenmo.
Oriental Daily News' front page headline: "Kobayashi Tenmo's 50 million gamble on television! Could Asia Television be facing its Waterloo?"
[In-depth digging by our newspaper] Kobayashi Tenmo spent 30 million Hong Kong dollars to acquire the "empty shell" ATV, which was indeed a shocking gamble!
According to our investigation, Jiayi TV Station had already fallen into a quagmire of serious losses in the later period of the Lin family's operation.
Not only did it lose a large number of viewers due to program strategy errors, such as over-reliance on martial arts dramas and the lack of educational program time slots, it also had a heavy debt of nearly HK$10 million!
What Kobayashi Tenmo took over was by no means a high-quality asset, but a "hot potato" with heavy debts, low morale, and damaged brand image!
Not to mention, to revive such a TV station that is in such a difficult situation, from recruiting top production talents and artistes to updating old equipment, planning new programs, and conducting large-scale publicity and promotion, it is conservatively estimated that at least another investment of 10 to 15 million Hong Kong dollars will be needed!
In other words, the actual price Kobayashi Tenmo paid to enter the television industry may be as high as half a billion Hong Kong dollars!
Such a huge investment, just to get involved in the television industry? Or, as the rumors say, just to make the beauty smile and "vent her anger"?
Regardless of his motives, in the fiercely competitive Hong Kong television market, where the dominant player (TVB) remains strong, can Kobayashi Tianwang, lacking deep industry roots and experience, lead Asia Television back to profitability and avoid repeating the mistakes of ATV? This newspaper expresses deep doubts! This battle may become an insurmountable "Waterloo" for this upstart business owner!
In addition, there are also newspapers like "Overseas Chinese Daily" that have taken a different approach and sought topics and breakthroughs from Lin Xiufeng, the former major shareholder of Jiayi Television.
After all, the Lin family's acquisition of ATV caused a sensation in Hong Kong, and Lin Xiufeng also fully demonstrated his determination to work in the television industry.
"Overseas Chinese Daily's front page: 'Xiao Lin breaks through! Asia Television takes off. Why did Lin Xiufeng let go?'"
[Focus of this Newspaper] Kobayashi Tenmo successfully acquired ATV and changed its name to Asia Television. The biggest mystery is: why did Mr. Lin Xiufeng, who was known for his stubbornness and toughness and regarded ATV as a symbol of the family's cultural business, finally agree to let go?
Lin has publicly stated on numerous occasions that "as long as Jiayi is here, the Lin flag will remain," a testament to their resolve. It is reported that Kobayashi Tenwang's approach to the Lin family was extremely secretive, and the conditions he offered must have been extremely generous or hit a sore spot for the Lin family.
There are unconfirmed reports that Kobayashi Tenwang may promise to assume all of ATV's outstanding debts and provide a purchase price far exceeding the market price, completely resolving the Lin family's biggest burden.
Some analysts also believe that Kobayashi Tianwang, backed by the huge resources of the Hong Kong Land Group and the media influence of the Asia Daily, painted a grand blueprint for "Asia Television" to be based in Hong Kong Island and radiate across Asia, which may have impressed Lin Xiufeng's expectation to continue the "ATV" brand on a grander scale.
In any case, Kobayashi Tenmo demonstrated not only financial strength but also extraordinary negotiation skills and the ability to construct compelling visions in order to force Lin Xiufeng to break his vow of "never letting go."
Not only these major newspapers, but also other tabloids with sales of tens of thousands, all came out with "exclusive reports" in a serious manner. The various news, accompanied by the smell of newspaper ink, quickly spread to every corner of Hong Kong Island.
Tea restaurants, office buildings, factory workshops, docks, stock exchanges... everywhere was discussing this sudden media earthquake enthusiastically.
Central's financial elites sip their coffee and quickly flip through financial newspapers.
"Xiao Lin Tian Wang... it's him again! Swallowing up Jardine Matheson and buying ATV! Just how big is this guy's appetite? Is his cash flow that terrifying?"
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