TVB 'shuts out' those artists who will sign with Ricky Wong's new TV Station, CTI -- Jessica Hsuan, Joe Ma, Maggie Cheung, Kenix Kwok and Benji Chiang are seen as traitors.
In the past, TVB usually broadcasts foreign purchased dramas, but this time TVB tries a new innovation by broadcasting their own production on the weekend. However, it is actually just a way to push out those series with the 'traitor artists' and clear their shelves. Roughly speaking, this is the time where Ricky Wong is driving up the momentum in preparation for the launch of his new TV station, CTI. As soon as his license gets authorized for use, the station will start operating next month. Before the license gets approved, TVB will have to take all the series starring those artists who have relations with Ricky off the shelves.
However, yesterday during an interview, producer Lam Chi Wah denied that the broadcast schedule had anything to do with the artists. He said: "It is not related to the artists, we have already decided to make Tiger Cubs a weekend series when we started shooting it last year. It is very similiar to overseas dramas, where each episode is about one case and will be an hour long. We hope to give this new time slot a try for ourselves and for our audience." The series is temporarily set to air in the summer. Since there are a lot of action and dangerous scenes, it is estimated to air in the time slot after 9pm.
In fact, TVB already has a history of giving the cold treatment to those who decided to collaborate with Ricky Wong. Earlier, Paul Chun's daughter Lesley Chiang already signed with Ricky Wong, but when her elder brother Benji Chiang, who had hosted several TVB programs, appeared at CityTelecom's social gathering party with his sister, TVB immediately thought of him as an 'outsider'. Not only did they not get invited to the JSG Best Ten Music Awards Presentation, but Benji's TVB program hosting jobs were all taken away. It was understood that even Paul had to personally plead for his son, but it was no good. A few days ago, Paul accepted an interview and sounded quite displeased: "He was just accompanying his sister to a party, even if the contract terms change or work needs to go on hiatus, [they] should get an understanding first and give notice a few days prior. Ricky and I are pretty good friends. If I wasn't working, I may go help him too. If so, then do my jobs get stopped too?"
When Paul was asked if he's going to renew his contract with TVB or go sign into Ricky Wong's company? Paul laughed: "No need to consider, TVB probably won't want me!" Paul does not rule out the chances that he may collaborate with Ricky as he praises after signing with CTI, artists can still appear on other TV stations; there is a high degree of freedom. However, he will still be professional and complete his current TVB production Policewoman's Love Battlefield.
As for Jessica Hsuan, she was approached by Ricky Wong's employee last September. Jessica's manager (Lydia) said: "We did discuss, but right now it is not the suitable time to collaborate. Perhaps wait until his license gets approved first, if there is a good script and co-stars, then we can discuss again. Once we are friends, there will always be chances for us to date."
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