Wilson Tsui (艾威) is angry and in shock over HKTV’s potential shutdown. Fearing the loss of a major income stream, the 55-year-old actor has considered selling his assets in order to pay the bills. Working in television since 1979, Wilson left TVB after 33 years of service to join Ricky Wong’s (王維基) HKTV station in 2012. When the Hong Kong government rejected HKTV’s free-to-air broadcast license in October 2013, Wilson was outspoken about his dissatisfaction and stated that he will never return to his former employer. He remained with HKTV when the start-up announced in December that it will transition itself into a mobile broadcast platform. Unfortunately, Hong Kong’s Communications Authority recently warned that HKTV will require a free-to-air or pay television license in order to broadcast its contents to more than 5000 local households. HKTV has since suspended its productions, and rumors claim that the company has also halted plans to renew its artistes’ contracts. Since his contract expired earlier this month, HKTV’s potential closure is a major threat to Wilson’s bank account. Although he has no offspring of his own, Wilson financially sponsors twelve needy children in addition to supporting his elderly mother and his wife, racking up thousands of HKD in monthly expenses. To pay the bills, he has thought about selling his assets to generate cash. “If I continue to have no income, I would really have to sell some assets. I have a watch that should worth something. Then I’d sell my car…and finally my home.” In a worst case scenario, Wilson has considered packing up and moving to Taiwan where cost of living is much cheaper. He is however looking into alternatives so that he can remain in Hong Kong. “My home can probably sell for a few million [HKD]. I can invest it or slowly spend it. I know that I am luckier than many of my colleagues, and have the chance to buy a home to serve as my final fortress.” Despite a potentially dire financial situation, Wilson hopes that he would not have to give up on his child sponsorship. No matter how bad things can get, he is adamant about never returning to TVB. “I have never considered it. I won’t die, I feel that I will be able to survive no matter what. It’s like that Chinese saying, ‘When the horse dies, walk instead’.” Creds: ihktv
I think don't TVB wants him back either!!! Not after he's so outspoken about his displease with TVB and all. Next time should learn to be more grateful...honestly so many artists out there, if it wasn't for TVB where would they be now and who would know them.
eh, just because they worked for tvb, they have to be eternally grateful about it, even if they feel tvb mistreats them?
TVB is really a place where many new actors goes to for publicity, they need to get their names out there so they can make big bucks. TVB don't have big pay checks but artists can get famous in TVB and that's where they are golden. They have their problems but to cut off all potential opportunity for future jobs in a place you worked for 33 years, that's just stupid. Like he said, he's luckier than most, he has a house and I'm sure some of that money came from TVB. Can't be that bad compare to others.
