ViuTV
ViuTV is a Hong Kong free-to-air general-entertainment television channel operated by HK Television Entertainment and owned by PCCW.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
ViuTV is a Hong Kong free-to-air general-entertainment television channel operated by HK Television Entertainment (HKTVE), a media subsidiary of PCCW. It broadcasts on channel 99 and combines locally produced entertainment, drama, music, reality, talk and news programming with acquired content. The channel is also used as a free-to-air outlet for selected programming associated with PCCW’s Now TV pay-television platform. The service began trial transmission on Now TV channel 99 on 31 March 2016. It subsequently took over the multi-band digital terrestrial broadcasting capacity vacated when Asia Television ended its broadcasts. ViuTV officially began terrestrial transmission in Hong Kong at midnight on 2 April 2016. Because channel 99 uses the same digital terrestrial network as Jade, the principal channel of TVB, viewers who could already receive Jade generally needed only to rescan their television or set-top box. This gave ViuTV broad technical coverage from launch, reaching approximately 99% of Hong Kong’s population according to the channel’s reference material. ViuTV’s programming strategy has emphasized contemporary Hong Kong culture, locally made formats and a relatively youth-oriented identity. Its schedule includes entertainment series, talk shows, music programming, reality competitions, scripted drama, documentaries and news-related material. The King Maker talent-show franchise became particularly important to the brand. Its first season, Goodnight Show - King Maker, helped bring the boy band Mirror to public attention, while later seasons expanded ViuTV’s role in Hong Kong’s music and popular-culture ecosystem. The channel’s music programming also includes Chill Club and the associated Chill Club Awards. The brand operates within a wider PCCW media portfolio. PCCW also controls Now TV and the international streaming service Viu, although ViuTV is a distinct Hong Kong television channel rather than a synonym for the Viu streaming platform. Its sister station, ViuTVsix, provides English-language programming. ViuTV is funded primarily through advertising and is not a publicly listed standalone company. ViuTV’s main digital service consists of its official website and mobile application, which provide live television and catch-up viewing for eligible users in Hong Kong. Availability varies according to rights agreements. Acquired programs generally have limited catch-up windows, while many ViuTV originals can remain available longer. Some live events, news material and programs with third-party copyright restrictions may not be offered for replay. From May 2021, full catch-up access required users to register as free members, while unregistered viewers received more limited access. The channel’s terrestrial signal is also receivable in Macau, although online live viewing and some mobile services are restricted to Hong Kong. Selected programs have reached overseas audiences through licensed broadcasters in Canada and the United States, through the Viu service in parts of Asia and the Middle East, and through the ViuTV World YouTube channel. ViuTV has not established a general official online channel for mainland China, although individual productions have received separate distribution, including the drama The Bridge of Sighs through a co-production and release arrangement with Youku. In 2020, the channel was reported to have reached about four million viewers, demonstrating its substantial position in Hong Kong’s television market.
History
ViuTV emerged during a major transition in Hong Kong’s terrestrial television market. It was established as the television brand of HK Television Entertainment, a PCCW subsidiary that also operated within a broader media group containing Now TV and the Viu streaming service. Before its free-to-air launch, ViuTV conducted trial broadcasting on Now TV channel 99 beginning on 31 March 2016. This initial distribution allowed the operator to test the channel and establish its programming identity before entering the city’s digital terrestrial television environment. The decisive turning point came when Asia Television ended its broadcasting operations. The digital terrestrial spectrum previously associated with ATV became available, allowing HKTVE to introduce a new free-to-air service. ViuTV officially began atmospheric transmission at midnight on 2 April 2016. Its principal channel number was 99. The channel shared a multi-band digital network with ViuTVsix and TVB’s Jade channel, meaning that many households already equipped to receive Jade could access ViuTV after a channel rescan. The resulting technical footprint was extensive from the outset, with reference material describing coverage of roughly 99% of Hong Kong’s population. ViuTV’s early identity was built around a mixture of acquired programs, entertainment, talk, news and locally produced formats. Its relationship with Now TV gave PCCW a way to distribute selected pay-television programming through a free-to-air outlet, while ViuTV’s own productions helped differentiate it from established terrestrial competitors. The channel adopted a more contemporary and experimental tone than a conventional mass-market broadcaster, with substantial attention to popular culture, music, youth audiences and formats designed for conversation on social media. Original reality and talent programming became a major part of this strategy. Goodnight Show - King Maker, launched in 2018, developed into the King Maker franchise. Its connection with the formation and public rise of Mirror gave ViuTV a prominent role in Hong Kong’s music and celebrity industries. Subsequent seasons, including King Maker II, King Maker III and King Maker IV, reinforced the channel’s association with locally generated talent. Music programming expanded through Chill Club, which began in 2019, and the Chill Club Awards, introduced in 2021. The channel also developed a broad scripted and unscripted slate. ViuTV productions and acquisitions have included drama, variety, travel, talk and reality programs. Titles such as Ossan's Love HK, The Bridge of Sighs, We Are The Littles, Leap Day, In Geek We Trust and Left On Read illustrate its involvement in both adaptations and original Hong Kong drama. Talker - Helmet Intercom, a long-running talk format, and series connected with Mirror and Error contributed to the channel’s entertainment portfolio. ViuTV’s digital offering has been an important complement to terrestrial broadcasting. Its website and mobile application provide live and catch-up access for users in Hong Kong, subject to program rights. Acquired content is generally governed by fixed replay periods, while some original programs can remain available without the same restrictions. News, trading sessions, live events and third-party programs may be unavailable for replay. The service has also used different versions of programming when broadcast standards or copyright requirements applied; one cited example is True PK, which offered television and online versions with different levels of content filtering. The channel’s terrestrial signal is available in Macau, but its live online services are generally limited to Hong Kong. International access has been achieved through licensing rather than through a single global ViuTV service. Canadian and American broadcasters have shown selected programs, while Viu provides access to some ViuTV dramas and entertainment in selected Asian and Middle Eastern markets. Other viewers may encounter selected material through ViuTV World on YouTube or official social-media channels. ViuTV has not pursued a general official online service for mainland China, although individual productions have obtained separate distribution. By 2020, the channel was reported to reach approximately four million viewers, confirming its importance in Hong Kong’s competitive television sector.
- 2021
Chill Club Awards introduced
[1]The channel expands its music franchise with the Chill Club Awards.
- 2021
Registered-member requirement introduced
[1]The official digital service limits unrestricted replay access to users registered as free members.
- 2020
Reported audience reaches four million
[1]Reference material reports a ViuTV reach of approximately four million viewers.
- 2019
Chill Club launches
[1]ViuTV introduces the Chill Club music program, which becomes a continuing part of its entertainment schedule.
- 2018
King Maker franchise begins
[1]Goodnight Show - King Maker launches, establishing a major talent and entertainment franchise for the channel.
- 2016
Trial broadcasting begins
[1]ViuTV begins trial transmission on Now TV channel 99 on 31 March.
- 2016
Free-to-air terrestrial launch
[1]ViuTV starts official digital terrestrial broadcasting on channel 99 on 2 April after the end of Asia Television’s service.
Products and positioning
A Hong Kong free-to-air entertainment channel focused on locally relevant, contemporary and youth-oriented programming, with a strong emphasis on original formats, music culture and digital catch-up viewing.
Free-to-air television channel · 2016
ViuTV Channel 99
ViuTV’s main Hong Kong free-to-air general-entertainment channel. It carries locally produced entertainment, music, reality, drama, talk, news and acquired programming. The channel began terrestrial transmission in 2016 using digital broadcasting capacity released after Asia Television ceased operations. It is primarily advertising-funded and is also used to syndicate selected programming associated with Now TV.
Digital television service · 2016
ViuTV digital website and application
ViuTV’s official digital services provide live streaming and catch-up viewing for eligible users, principally in Hong Kong. Availability varies by program rights. Acquired shows commonly have limited replay windows, while some ViuTV originals remain available for longer. The services have also distributed different broadcast and online versions where standards or rights obligations required it.
Talent and reality television · 2018
King Maker
A ViuTV talent-competition franchise comprising Goodnight Show - King Maker and later seasons. The format helped establish the channel as a significant force in Hong Kong youth entertainment and was closely associated with the public emergence of the boy band Mirror. Later installments continued the channel’s focus on locally generated music and celebrity talent.
Music television · 2019
Chill Club
A music-oriented ViuTV program launched in 2019. Chill Club forms part of the channel’s continuing investment in Hong Kong popular music and performance programming, and its brand was extended through the Chill Club Awards beginning in 2021.
English-language television channel
ViuTVsix
ViuTV’s sister station within the HKTVE portfolio. It provides English-language programming and shares the digital terrestrial broadcasting infrastructure used by ViuTV and other channels.
Brand decisions
2021
Restrict unrestricted catch-up viewing to registered membersStrategyBackground
ViuTV’s website and application had offered online replay, but program rights and service-management requirements affected how content could be made available.
Action taken
From 1 May 2021, registered free members retained broader access, while unregistered users could generally watch only the first three episodes and episodes released within seven days.
Aftermath
The change made account registration part of the regular catch-up viewing experience.
2016
Launch a new free-to-air channel on channel 99Product launchBackground
The end of Asia Television’s terrestrial broadcasting created an opportunity to use released digital broadcasting capacity in Hong Kong.
Action taken
HKTVE introduced ViuTV, first through trial transmission on Now TV and then through official terrestrial broadcasting beginning on 2 April 2016.
Aftermath
The channel entered the Hong Kong free-to-air market with broad technical coverage and became part of PCCW’s wider television and streaming portfolio.
Recent events
Reported
Marketbridge launches AI Visibility[3]
Marketbridge launched AI Visibility, an offering that helps clients understand their visibility in AI-generated search, compare their presence with competitors, and identify actions that could improve visibility. The offering combines Channel99's AI visibility analysis and recommendations with Marketbridge's marketing strategy and execution.
Reported
Marketbridge acquires Channel99[3]
Marketbridge announced that it had acquired Channel99, a B2B marketing performance and measurement platform. Channel99 will operate as a Marketbridge company while retaining its product identity and market presence.
Sources3 sources
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