Charmaine Sheh Plans to Join Now TV?

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Although it was recently reported that former TVB artist, Charmaine Sheh (佘詩曼), will return to film for TVB next month, Face Magazine revealed that Charmaine actually had plans to join Richard Li’s (李澤楷) Now TV instead due to the company’s close relationship with mainland China’s Hunan TV, China’s most popular television station.

According to Face Magazine, Charmaine currently has one year left in her filming contract with TVB. However, due to her current career focus on the mainland China market, she may “jump ship” and sail with Now TV instead, who has close ties with mainland China’s mega-popular Hunan TV station.

Now TV executive, Ho Lai Chuen (何麗全), also admitted that there were plans to cast Charmaine in their station’s first official television drama. She may also star alongside Wong He (王喜) and Steven Ma (馬浚偉). Mr. Ho said, “We are still negotiating with Charmaine. Due to our relationship with Hunan TV, our dramas will have guaranteed broadcasts in several of China’s most important cities. Our dramas will also air in Hong Kong, but we are not competing with TVB. We are on different levels, and our focus is on the mainland market.”

Wong He also admitted that he will film with Now TV, “I have already reserved the first two months of next year’s schedule to film a drama for Now TV. I do not know who the female lead is.”

Many of TVB’s former employees are currently working at Now TV as well. Popular producers, Lau Kar Ho (劉家豪) and Miu Siu Ching (梅小青), who helmed several of TVB’s most popular television dramas in recent years, are currently preparing for Now TV’s first drama, which will start production next year.

Steven Ma’s Direction Unclear

While former TVB actor, Steven Ma (馬浚偉), was reported to be returning to TVB soon as a per-series contractor, recent rumors are also indicating that Steven Ma would join Now TV instead.

Regarding these rumors, Steven’s agency vaguely stated, “A lot of stations want to sign with Steven, but we currently do not have anything to announce. Steven is good friends with producers Miu Siu Ching and Lau Kar Ho. He also wishes to collaborate with Charmaine Sheh, Linda Chung (鍾嘉欣), Tavia Yeung (楊怡), and Fala Chen (陳法拉) again.”

CTI Fails to Attract More Artists

Ricky Wong’s (王維基) new television station, CTI, is currently in the midst of filming five television dramas. Still without an approved television broadcasting license, many artists were beginning to doubt CTI’s endurance in the market.

Rumors are already spurring that popular television actresses Bernice Liu (廖碧兒) and Maggie Cheung (張可頤), who recently joined CTI, had intentions to leave the company. CTI Television actors like Dominic Lam (林嘉華) and Leila Tong (唐寧), also do not have enough star power to lead an entire drama.

With CTI failing to attract more popular TVB artists to sign with their company, the new station had no choice but to target movie stars. CTI hired award-winning actor, Liu Kai Chi (廖啟智) and Lawrence Chou (周俊偉), to star in their dramas.



Creds: Face Magazine