The competitive fire between TVB and City Telecom (CTI) continued to flame. Tempted by higher wages at CTI, many former TVB artists have signed with the new company. After offering Charmaine Sheh (佘詩曼) a filming fee of $130,000 HKD per episode, CTI reportedly offered Sheren Tang (鄧萃雯) an astronomical price of $150,000 HKD per episode! While Sheren and CTI were still negotiating, it was speculated that she will likely sign with them. Last month, Ricky Wong had allegedly reached out to Sheren. Ricky’s sincerity reportedly convinced Sheren to film for CTI, after she completes TVB’s War and Beauty 2 <金枝慾孽 2>. Allegedly, CTI’s 2-year contract stipulated Sheren to film 40 episodes, which offered a large degree of freedom. It was revealed that CTI will be producing 7 dramas, of which 3 dramas will be filmed this year: a police drama starring Felix Wong (黃日華), a drama depicting family struggles, and a female-oriented drama starring Sheren Tang, Maggie Cheung (張可頤), Bernice Liu (廖碧兒), Lawrence Ng (吳啟華) and Frankie Lam (林文龍). An insider revealed that the drama will feature Sheren as a strong businesswoman. The drama will be broadcast in Hong Kong as well as mainland China. Sheren was currently filming War and Beauty 2 and appeared to be reserved in responding to questions regarding a possible collaboration with CTI. ”What? There are such rumors?” Asked if she was offered a filming fee of $150,000 HKD per episode, Sheren said, “Ha? I have to thank him! Ha Ha!” Regarding rumors that Ricky Wong will offer her a custom-tailor role in a new drama, Sheren replied, “Ha? He said that?” Excusing herself that she needed to enter the TVB studio to start filming, Sheren left. A CTI Public Relations representative declared, “Sheren is still filming for TVB right now. We have not discussed all the details yet!” The representative did not clarify the filming fee CTI offered Sheren. “Ricky will be negotiating the price himself. It is a bit awkward to talk about it now! We do not wish to agitate the other television station too much. When things are finalized, we will announce it!” CTI has been successful in recruiting Charmaine Sheh at $130,000 per episode (former TVB price at $30,000 HKD) Maggie Cheung at $120,000 HKD per episode (former TVB price at $20,000 per episode), Bernice Liu at $40,000 HKD per episode (former TVB price was $15,000 HKD). Felix Wong, Frankie Lam, Shek Sau (石修), Mannor Chan (陳曼娜), Paul Chun (秦沛), John Chiang (姜大卫), Wilson Tsui (艾威), Yuen Wah (元華), and Felix Lok (駱應鈞) have also signed with CTI. In addition, CTI was persuading Noel Leung (梁小冰), Leila Tong (唐寧), and Mimi Kung (龔慈恩) to sign with them. TVB has countered its recent loss of talent by attempting to recruit “new blood” Alice Chan (陳煒), Joey Meng (萬綺雯), Chrissie Chau (周秀娜), Janice Man (文詠珊), and Annie Liu (劉心悠). TVB Deputy Director of External Affairs, Tsang Sing Ming (曾醒明), indicated that Sheren was still filming War and Beauty 2, thus her future filming arrangement was unclear. Mr. Tsang stated, “TVB values the spirit of the contract, whose intention is to ensure that artists will only film for us.” Mr. Tsang did not wish to comment on CTI’s policy of allowing its signed artists to film with any company they wish, further adding that they will continue to seek “new blood” to join TVB. Creds: Sudden Weekly/Jstars
its for a good cause. it will improve the quality of the series. recent series are not as good as they use to be.
Aren't the scriptwriters still former TvB ? Series will be like the old TvB with just some new faces -lol
i would hope not! if Ricky Wong is spending the money to recruit talent, he should have the brains to save some cash to ensure high quality productions.
is CTI so rich in recruiting all the TVB artistes over. hopefully their production and quality of series is good. otherwise, i don't think they can compete with TVB though they have all the big names artistes there.
wow...if she went to CTI, now that will be a big blow! Sheren, Charmaine, and Maggie...can film War and Beauty 3 at CTI soon! Just need to persuade Gigi to come out of retirement from her luxury life style...(yeh, right!!)
no way that much money? people are really spending loads to get the stars hope this doesnt make channels bust
TVB may be stingy but, they are going for long term. CTI will soon run out of money soon, spending too much money on actor and will get the same result has TVB. CTI will ruin the price market, now every actor will have unreal hope for their price Value. Cti = sad sad + more sad
So whatever TVB's salary is, CTI just adds $100,000 to it?! (aside from Bernice Liu who should be worth a little more than $40,000 no?) lol. No wonder everyone's flocking over to CTI and it doesn't help that Sheren's expressed her dissatisfaction with TVB's production values and standards in the past and looked reluctant to do WABII in the 1st place. Well good luck to her and the others anyway.
