I'm bored stiff with Hong Kong TV. I used to console myself with
chocolates and Ally McBeal, but now the channel chiefs have even denied
me that small indulgence. The programmes I love come mostly from
overseas -Shakespeare in Love or Friends. We are crying out for a
revolution on the box.
Press
Credit goes to Jimmy Lai for launching a breakthrough newspaper format
with Apple Daily (although its ethics are not always sound). But at
least, the move heated up competition and gave us new alternatives. I
love the tabloids that are full of juicy, bitsy gossip (which makes
media magazine a must-read). I love Vogue, Conde Nast Traveler,
Wallpaper and W - all from US. My daily bread is the SCMP or ASWJ.
Websites
Whenever I am surfing the web, I am on a mission of info-search. Hence,
the sites I go to are often fact-driven and business-oriented: The
Economist, Fortune, Forbes, SCMP, McKinsey Quarterly, etc.
Advertising
Given the short-term business mentality and short project time line in
Hong Kong, it is increasingly difficult to create powerful brands in
this part of the world. Even if you start off with the greatest
intention, the efforts often sizzle out after a few years. There were
telecom, ISP, dotcom ... none of these investments lasted long enough.
So industry folks try to do their best with promotional or tactical ads,
which are difficult to amount to something great.
