Now SPORTS no odds, only conscience

出自香港新聞網 - 樹仁新傳系學生實習習作

055023 Wong Chung Yin

now SPORTS no odds, only conscience

2008-02-27

An official at now SPORTS channel said he won’t allow his subordinates to mention about any odds and bets in the programmes because of the conscience.

Channel vice president Lai Yu-ching believes media should be regulated by rules and must not guide children and young persons in gambling even though betting football is already legalized in Hong Kong. If the programme shows or discusses with any odds, people who are under 18 years old will be probably to get in touch with those gambilng information.

With the Olympics coming in August, Lai believes there are not huge difference between the registration of customers for pay TV stations. From his experience, Cable TV and now TV have no any advantages and extra attraction to customers as TVB and ATV have few high-definition channels to televise live now. Besides, 2 former free TV stations have sufficient experience and put lots of resources in the past Olympics. “For instance, ESPN never broadcasted any World Cups and Olympics, but there are also no influence for this famous international station.”

Audience in Hong Kong enjoy the oversea sports especially English Premier League rather than Hong Kong sports. Lai hopes audience express more concern with local sports. He is willing to work hard on local sports such as Hong Kong Marathon. “We used 30 cameras, 5 motorcycles and 2 helicopters to televise live in Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2008.” Compared with now TV, TVB always chooses video rather than live programme, which can provide a different feelings to audience. Therefore, he believes now TV and Journalists in sports will have bright futures.