• Source: Commercial Radio Hong Kong

Commercial Radio Hong Kong (CRHK, simplified Chinese: 香港商业电台; traditional Chinese: 香港商業電台; pinyin: Xiānggǎng Shāngyè Diàntái; Jyutping: heung1 gong2 seung1 yip6 din6 toi4), or Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Limited, is one of the two commercial radio broadcasting companies in Hong Kong alongside Metro Radio Hong Kong. CRHK provides radio programs that include news and weather reports, music, and cultural arts.




History


CRHK was founded by George Ho Cho-chi on 26 August 1959, when he inherited HK$50,000 from his father Sir Robert Ho Tung. The 10-year franchise of Radio Rediffusion ended its radio operation in 1959. CRHK joined Radio Rediffusion and Radio Television Hong Kong.
Initially, Commercial Radio was situated at Lai Chi Kok, near Mei Foo Sun Chuen. 9 years later on 25 July 1966, the station relocated to Broadcast Drive. However, at the time, the new five-floor building was under refurbishment, so the station was temporarily housed in Yau Yat Chuen until 26 August 1971. G.J. Ho, son of George Ho, is the current chairman of CRHK.




Channels


Currently CRHK broadcasts through two Cantonese channels on the FM band, and an English channel on the AM band. All of the channels are 24-hour broadcasts, and each has its distinct program formats and audience.




= FM 88.1

=
CR1 FM 88.1 (雷霆881) has the widest audience base in Hong Kong. It is a talk-based channel which broadcasts current affairs, traffic and financial information, including audience talk shows.




= FM 90.3

=
CR2 FM 90.3 (叱咤903) is a music-based channel focused on pop music.
The programs feature the latest news in pop music, including Cantonese, Japanese, and English songs. This channel also organizes one of the four Hong Kong annual music awards.




= AM 864

=
AM 864 (豁達864) is an English channel. It offers a diverse selection of music from the latest international hits to hip-hop, R&B, jazz, rock and roll, and grunge. It is intended to cater to audiences all around the world.
Listeners could keep up with the latest news, especially with global issues, through AM 864. News was broadcast every hour throughout the day, with weather forecast and traffic reports. In addition, it regularly produced news reports and public affairs programs.
From 2000 to 2003, AM864 partnered with HMV and was called HMV 864. Among other names, Quote 864 was also used as an on-air name.
In 2004 the station became automated and jockless, i.e. without presenters (except for the hourly news). The format is adult hits, with popular music from the 1960s to the 2010s, catering to music lovers from every generation.




Notable programmes






= FM 88.1

=
Among all 88.1 Programs, there are three programs that actively discuss contemporary Hong Kong political, social, and economic issues every day.
"On a Clear Day" airs during the weekdays, from Monday to Friday, from 6 am to 10 am. This four-hour program is hosted by Stephen Chan, Chan Chung, and Ken Kwok. During the program, the hosts invite some of the audience and sometimes guests to join the discussion of current issues. The program has a session called voice column in which some Commercial Radio DJs participate as columnists, sharing their own viewpoints on certain issues, e.g. the column "陶言無忌" by To Kit, who has worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation for 8 years.
"Circles" airs during Monday to Friday 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. It focuses on interviews with celebrities and special guests.
"Summit" airs during Monday to Friday 11:00 pm to 12:00 am. It is hosted by Chip Tsao among others. It is a talk program focussing on the current affairs in Hong Kong, international relations, and culture related topics.




= FM 90.3

=
Among all 90.3 Programs, there are two programs that actively discuss contemporary Hong Kong political, social and economic issues every day.
"On a Clear Day" airs during the weekdays, from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 10 am. It is hosted by Jan Lamb, Ken Yuen, and Michelle Lo. The hosts invite some of the audience and sometimes guests to join the discussion of current issues, in a more comedic way. The program has a session called voice column in which some Commercial Radio DJs participate as columnists, sharing their own viewpoints on certain issues, e.g. the column "陶言無忌" by To Kit, who has worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation for eight years.
"Good Morning King" airs during the weekdays, from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 12 pm. It is hosted by Sammy Leung, Kitty Yuen and Marco Hung. Marco Hung is no longer working in the programme as of 3 March 2023.




= AM 864

=
Two foreign-language radio programs – "Hong Kong-Pak This Evening" in Urdu and "Nepal Darshan" in Nepali – were launched jointly by Commercial Radio and the Home Affairs Bureau from 18 June 2005 to promote multiculturalism in Hong Kong. They aimed at strengthening the sense of belonging of the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, but at the same time retaining their cultural identities and differences.
The programs were broadcast for 26 consecutive Saturdays on Commercial Radio Channel 1 (AM864) until 10 December 2005. "Hong Kong-Pak This Evening" and "Nepal Darshan" were on air from 8:00 pm to 8:30 pm and from 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm respectively. The Urdu program was hosted by Abid Ali Baig, a poet and writer who had been working in the broadcasting industry for 30 years in Pakistan; whereas the Nepali one was hosted by Pushpa Kumar Rai, who had worked in the former British Forces Broadcasting Service for almost 20 years and is familiar to many Nepalese people in Hong Kong. The programs consisted mainly of music, news, sport, current affairs, and community services related to their respective ethnic groups; local celebrities from the ethnic groups were also invited to talk about their own cultures and their assimilation into the community.
Another program on AM864, Good Evening Kabayan, is for the Filipino community in Hong Kong. Its initial broadcast aired on 9 July 2001. It started as a two-hour show and two years later aired twice a week on the channel.
In late 2017, the two programs were renamed to classify two different formats. From 9 pm to 11 pm every Friday airs "Pinoy Hit Music Central" and every Saturday, on the same time slot, airs "Pilipinas Week In Review" (PWIR). Hit Music Central plays the latest Original Pinoy Music (OPM). It features interviews with celebrities from the Philippines and airs the most requested OPMs. PWIR gives its Pinoy listeners in Hong Kong and around the globe the latest news and current affairs in Hong Kong and the Philippines.




Controversy and criticism



In mid-2004, three of the program hosts were well known for their outspoken hosting style over social and political matters. Suddenly, all three announced they would stop. Albert Cheng Jing Han announced a hiatus from hosting his program in April 2004, claiming pressure from the Chinese government, and announced his resignation by the end of July. Another political program host Raymond Wong Yuk-man announced his decision to quit his own program on 13 May, claiming there was a threat to his family's safety. However, he decided to rejoin CRHK to host a brand new program for the station in October 2004. Allen Lee Peng-Fei replaced Cheng Jing Han, who announced his resignation on 19 May also for political reasons. Freedom of speech has been a concern in Hong Kong since the 1997 Handover.
In May 2010, the memory of CR host Lam Bun was evoked after CR allowed the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) to sponsor a political radio program. Activists protested outside the station with images of Lam, who was assassinated during the 1967 riots and became an icon of free speech, complaining that the station had desecrated his memory. The DAB said that the shows were about livelihood issues, and denied that they promoted a political stance.
In late 2013, as a prelude to the renewal of its broadcasting license, CR replaced the outspoken critic of CY Leung, who hosted an influential prime-time morning talk show. Lee Wai-ling, long despised by the pro-establishment camp for her vocal criticism of the government, was abruptly shunted to a less prominent evening show and replaced by station chief executive Stephen Chan Chi-wan. Chan denied political motivations were involved, but one former media executive said that it was "an open secret" that some outspoken program hosts disliked by the government had to leave at the time of licence renewal, as media operators are under considerable political pressure.




Commercial Radio Production


Commercial Radio Production Co. Ltd. (CRP) was established in 1997 to produce radio commercials for their partners, but it has also become a brand of its own. It aims at providing faster and updated information and an entertainment platform to the public in the future. It also provides market-promotion service to its customers.




= Productions

=
CRP organizes different kinds of concerts and outdoor activities, such as "Ultimate Song Chart Awards Presentation", "903 ID Club Music is Life Concert", and "Famine 30". CRP also holds different forms of gathering for the audience of CRHK, such as the "903 ID Club"; these activities thus provide a platform and more chances for both DJs and the audience to communicate with each other. In addition, CRP has been issuing company products including books and stationery to promote its own brand.




= Art room

=
While producing and organizing different kinds of activities, a large number of art products are needed, such as pamphlets, posters, and even the stage design of the "Ultimate Song Chart Awards Presentation". It fosters creativity and the production of aesthetic artwork.




= The Basement

=
There has always been keen competition among Hong Kong radio stations. Recently, CRP launched video production services and issues "903 Music on the Move". In this program, music and pictures are combined, and it creates a new definition for radio production. This combination is then moved on to mobile phone service, creating another new medium for radio and music for the users.




= 881903.com

=
CRHK launched 881903.com in 1995 as the official website of Commercial Radio Hong Kong. CRP is the administrative organisation of 881903.com. The signal is retransmitted through the internet, and anyone can listen to it online. Although only the Cantonese version is available, it lets the radio station promote its programmes and related products. Internet users can find updated news and financial information, programme schedule, programme synopsis and even personal pages of the DJs. By logging onto the page, people from all over the world can listen to Radio 1 and 2. Members of 881903.com have access to past radio programmes as well. An open forum can also be found on 881903.com which allows the audience to leave comments on the radio programmes or the DJs. Because of its rising popularity, a multimedia marketing platform is formed which enables CRP to target a larger audience, especially from overseas countries. Extra revenue is gained from its advertisers such as Netvigator, ICQ and Motorola.
By having an online radio station, the audience can enjoy greater convenience and more flexibility in listening to the radio and it also helps globalize their programs, hence the radio station.




= my903.com

=
In 2006, CRHK has launched a dedicated website MY903.com (formerly 90345678.com and 903456.com) for its CR2 channel. This website uses an interactive and eye-catching layout to make closer connection between programme audiences and hosts. Thus creating a promotion platform for special features in prime programmes. In 2007, MY 903 FORUM launched its beta version. This enables instant discussion on programmes between hosts and audiences and an alternative platform for channel opinions.




903 id Club


"903 id Club" is an organisation established by Radio 2, CRHK, where "id" stands for "I Dream", "I Discover", "I Dare" and "I Decide". 903 id club aims at promoting local music and is a trend setter for local teenagers. For example, it is one of the organisers of is Life Concert>>, which attracts thousands of audience every year. It also promotes new films and introduces the latest trend to the public. Besides, 903 id club creates a channel for music and film lovers to share their thoughts and interests. This once again shows CRP's emphasis on audience's involvement.
Moreover, 903 id club is linked to several radio programmes, such as "Sammy Moving" and some of the DJs of those programmes work on projects supported by the club. One of the very successful examples is the annual drama performance done by Sammy Leung Chi-Kin and Kitty Yuen Siu-Yee. Another success story is the boy group I love you boyz, formed by DJs Jim Yan and Donald. The group is known for their exaggerated and eerie comedic image. DJ Jan Lamb has also hosted a series of stand-up comedy shows produced by CR Productions.
Also, members of 903 id club can have discounts in various shops e.g. Laneige and join activities organised by the club. This reinforces the audience's sense of belonging to the channels.




Board of directors


Honorary chairman: George Ho*
Chairman: George Joseph Ho*
Deputy chairman: Winnie Yu*
Chief Executive Officer: Rita Chan
Non-executive director: Kwok-kit Leung*
Non-executive director: Richard Yat-sun Tang*
Non-executive director: Michael Chi-hung Tse*
Non-executive director: Chin-kung Kwok*
Non-executive director: Amy Mei-yan Miao*
*: Board of directors of the H.C.B.C. Enterprises Limited.




See also


Lam Bun
Media of Hong Kong
Metro Broadcast Corporation
RTHK




References


Chen, Y.J. (2000). A history of Chinese radio broadcasting in Hong Kong 1928–1997. Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong.
Lok, H., Yam, T., Ting, T. (2002). Broadcasting services survey 2002 : report. Hong Kong : Broadcasting Authority.
Radio Television Hong Kong (1999). 70 years of broadcasting in Hong Kong, 1928–1998. Hong Kong : Radio Television Hong Kong.
韋佩文 ... [等」(2004). 從一九二八年說起 : 香港廣播七十五年專輯. 香港: 香港電台.
Pinyin translated by Cozy Website.




Notes






External links


881903.com Commercial Radio

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