TVB plays up multimedia offer in pitch to advertisers

The TVB Sales Presentation 2010 took place last night in Hong Kong, with 1,300 advertiser and media agency representatives from Greater China and Malaysia in attendance, as well as leading TVB personalities.

Stephen Chan, GM of TVB, told the crowd: “2010 will be a promising year for advertisers. It will be a year where TVB will cross media platforms, extending our TV programmes into films, mobile, online and magazines with shows such as  My Name is Bond on J2 Channel."

He added: "Our TV programme production will also be cross-regional, with new productions with partners in Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. It will be a year for cross-generation with the launch of a new 13-week young talent challenge show Sweet 16." 

ST Tso, deputy controller at TVB's marketing and sales division, added that the ad market appeared to be picking up after what has been a tough year for TVB. “Everyone is confident that next year will be better than this year. With more resources adding to our drama and non-drama programmes, we are hoping advertisers will have more confidence in advertising commitments with TVB in 2010.”

The commitment deadline for 2010 is 4 December, though TVB is offering a five per cent bonus for advertisers that make their commitments by 27 November.

For those advertisers who join the TVB 2010 commitment scheme, there is no effective rate increase in the first half of the year and a five per cent increase in the second half  of 2010 compared with 2009 rates.

One agency head said the offers would attract advertisers, but added: "The TVB commitment scheme does not cover TVB.com. TVB.com has a higher growth potential as the consumer trend is going online."

Last month, the 101-year-old Hong Kong media mogul Sir Run Run Shaw, chairman of TVB and executive chairman since 1980, announced he would relinquish his executive duties and move into a non-executive role from January.