2010 TVB corruption scandal
Encyclopedia
The TVB corruption scandal is a corruption probe involving the general manager of the Television Broadcasts Limited
(TVB) Chen Zhiyun
and two other TVB staff who were arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption
(ICAC) in Operation: Valiant. Aside from Chan, involved was TVB head of business development Wilson Chan Wing-suen, TVB variety department executive Wilson Chin Kwok-wai, actor Ning Jin and Edthancy Tseng Pei-kun, head of an advertising company. TVB confirmed that three of their employees were involved, and that their duties and work had been suspended pending further development.
to which he is alleged to have awarded production contracts from TVB. The shell company has no production facilities of its own but outsources the work to other production houses at a much lower rate than it receives from TVB, pocketing the difference the shell company having accumulated as much as HK$10 million over the years. This outsourcing is itself thought to be unnecessary since TVB has the resources in house to handle these productions. One of the arrested is the manager of artist's contracts at TVB and using this position many actors and actresses have been forced to perform in major shows and other functions, and even ribbon cutting ceremonies for free or at very low pay. These artists are said to include Bernice Liu
, Moses Chan
, Raymond Lam
, Bosco Wong
, Tavia Yeung
and Charmaine Sheh
.
Prior to the arrest, in late February 2010, speculation existed that TVB deputy chairman Mona Fong
had dropped Stephen Chan from her inner circle after he failed to accompany her to a variety show. Chan was also blamed over a copyright issue with the Hong Kong Recording Industry Alliance
, and has not been popular with the staff after he laid off hundreds of employees in 2009. Many other artists however have expressed regrets in the situation.
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
(TVB) Chen Zhiyun
Stephen Chan Chi Wan
Stephen Chan Chi Wan, born 1958, is the general manager of Television Broadcasts Limited .-Early years:Chan studied linguistics and theatre at the University of Hong Kong and graduated in 1981.-Pre-TVB career:...
and two other TVB staff who were arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption
Independent Commission Against Corruption (Hong Kong)
The Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong was established by Governor Murray MacLehose on 15 February 1974, when Hong Kong was under British rule. Its main aim was to clean up endemic corruption in the many departments of the Hong Kong Government through law enforcement,...
(ICAC) in Operation: Valiant. Aside from Chan, involved was TVB head of business development Wilson Chan Wing-suen, TVB variety department executive Wilson Chin Kwok-wai, actor Ning Jin and Edthancy Tseng Pei-kun, head of an advertising company. TVB confirmed that three of their employees were involved, and that their duties and work had been suspended pending further development.
Background
Chan was said to control a shell company through his personal assistantPersonal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
to which he is alleged to have awarded production contracts from TVB. The shell company has no production facilities of its own but outsources the work to other production houses at a much lower rate than it receives from TVB, pocketing the difference the shell company having accumulated as much as HK$10 million over the years. This outsourcing is itself thought to be unnecessary since TVB has the resources in house to handle these productions. One of the arrested is the manager of artist's contracts at TVB and using this position many actors and actresses have been forced to perform in major shows and other functions, and even ribbon cutting ceremonies for free or at very low pay. These artists are said to include Bernice Liu
Bernice Liu
Bernice Jan Liu is a Chinese Canadian actress, singer, and commercial model based in Hong Kong. She has previously held the title Miss Chinese Vancouver 2000 as well as Miss Chinese International 2001, the latter position bringing her fame in Hong Kong.Liu is best known for her role as Princess...
, Moses Chan
Moses Chan
Moses Chan Ho is an award-winning actor from Hong Kong. Having started his career working mostly on films, Chan has gained remarkable success in recent years while concentrating on his TV acting career with Television Broadcasts Limited...
, Raymond Lam
Raymond Lam
Raymond Lam Fung is a Hong Kong actor and singer contracted to the television station TVB and EEG's Music Plus label. He has been famous with his "choking" look.-Early years:Raymond Lam was born into a wealthy family...
, Bosco Wong
Bosco Wong
Bosco Wong Chung-chak is a Hong Kong actor under TVB management and singer under East Asia Music.-Early career:Bosco's entertainment career began in 1998. He was spotted on the street by a talent-recruiter and soon appear for the first time in a lemon tea commercial and several minor modelling jobs...
, Tavia Yeung
Tavia Yeung
Tavia Yeung Yi is a Hong Kong actress under Hong Kong's Television Broadcast Limited or TVB. She has starred in numerous popular Hong Kong television series such as Vigilante Force, Twin of Brothers, Dicey Business, Heart of Greed, Moonlight Resonance and Beyond the Realm of Conscience.- Career...
and Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh Sze-man is a Hong Kong TVB actress.Sheh is best known for her roles in TVB dramas, including Return of the Cuckoo, Country Spirit, Perish in the Name of Love, Angels of Mission, War and Beauty, The Dance of Passion,The Drive of Life, Maidens' Vow, Forensic Heroes II,Beyond the Realm...
.
Prior to the arrest, in late February 2010, speculation existed that TVB deputy chairman Mona Fong
Mona Fong
Mona Fong Yat Wah, Lady Shaw is a Hong Kong film and television producer and production manager. A Cantonese born in Shanghai, Mona achieved fame as one of the most popular nightclub singers and recording artists in Singapore and Hong Kong in the 1950s. She often sang English covers of top hits of...
had dropped Stephen Chan from her inner circle after he failed to accompany her to a variety show. Chan was also blamed over a copyright issue with the Hong Kong Recording Industry Alliance
Hong Kong Recording Industry Alliance
Hong Kong Recording Industry Alliance Limited is a not-for-profit copyright management organization, formed to handle copyright issues for recording companies regarding the broadcast, public performance and relevant usage of sound recordings and music videos in Hong Kong, Macau and other...
, and has not been popular with the staff after he laid off hundreds of employees in 2009. Many other artists however have expressed regrets in the situation.