History
Hong Kong Television Broadcasts
ViuTV first began trial broadcasting [2] on now TV channel 99 on March 31, 2016. On April 2, 2016, it took over the multi-band digital broadcast spectrum vacated by ATV after ATV ceased broadcasting.
Since ViuTV, ViuTVsix, and digital channel 81 (Jade Channel) use the same multi-band network for broadcasting, if viewers can receive the signal of digital channel 81 (Jade Channel) through a digital television or digital set-top box, they only need to rescan the channels to watch the new free-to-air channel 99. Therefore, when channel 99 was launched, its coverage rate of atmospheric radio waves in Hong Kong was the same as that of digital channel 81, reaching 99% of the population.
In addition, viewers who watch via now TV set-top box do not need to search for channels again; they can simply select channel number 99 to watch.
Macau Television Broadcast
Because ViuTV needed to take over the multi-band digital broadcast spectrum freed up by Asia Television's termination of broadcasting, it would not be able to receive the signal until midnight on April 2, 2016, when it officially began transmitting atmospheric radio waves. The program versions and the official broadcast time were the same as in Hong Kong.
Since ViuTV, ViuTVsix, and digital channel 81 (Jade Channel) use the same multi-band network for broadcasting, viewers who can receive the signal of digital channel 81 (Jade Channel) through a digital television or digital set-top box only need to rescan the channels to watch the new free-to-air channel 99. Therefore, when channel 99 was launched, its coverage rate of atmospheric radio waves in Macau was the same as that of digital channel 81, reaching 99% of the population.
Although Macau viewers can watch ViuTV and ViuTVsix programs on television, the live TV broadcasts and programs on the mobile app are only available in Hong Kong. Therefore, if Macau viewers wish to rewatch these programs, they can watch and stream ViuTV's original programs on ViuTV's overseas YouTube channel, "ViuTV World" (most programs are available for streaming a week after their television premiere).
China Mainland Broadcasting
Compared to ATV before it took over the spectrum, ViuTV currently has no plans to launch in Guangdong Province, China, and does not currently offer any legitimate online channels for watching ViuTV's original programs in mainland China. Only some viewers in Guangdong use their own antennas or set-top boxes to watch ViuTV programs. The drama series "The Bridge of Sighs," co-produced with Youku, is one of the few ViuTV original programs that has been officially launched in mainland China.
Overseas broadcast
Since ViuTV launched, New Age Television in Canada has begun airing some ViuTV programs, such as parts of the talk show "Late Night Series," and in 2021, it also aired reality shows "Mirror," "King Maker IV," and "God's Leading Lady," as well as the music program "Chill Club." In October 2021, it also aired the popular drama series "Ossan's Love" during prime time from Monday to Friday, and during the airing of "Ossan's Love," it offered ViuTV collectible gifts through a prize game. [3]
In December 2021, ViuTV's popular drama "Ossan's Love" premiered on KTSF26 in the United States during weekday prime time.
Official website and application
ViuTV offers an official website (archived) and an official mobile application (marked in blue) that provides live streaming of all programs. All programs can be uploaded within hours of each episode's broadcast, allowing for free full-length viewing. ViuTV's acquired programs typically offer a 180-day viewing period due to broadcasting rights restrictions (some acquired programs may have shorter viewing periods; Now News programs have a 90-day viewing period). ViuTV's own productions do not have a viewing period (except for "Smart Money" and "Happy Kids").
Some live broadcasts (such as "Smart Money" (before January 24, 2020, now only available for 7 days), news reports, and trading sessions) and programs with copyright restrictions (such as RTHK programs, Japanese dramas, and purchased programs rebroadcast outside of prime time) will not be available for rewatch. During the 2016 UEFA European Championship, the ViuTV official website and app suspended live television broadcasts; viewers could only watch the matches via digital television or Now broadband TV decoders.
The talk show "True PK" contains a large amount of profanity and vulgar language in its first episode. Therefore, in addition to being designed as a guide for parents of children with pregnancies involving pornography, the content has been filtered to meet television broadcast standards. Both the television version and the unfiltered version can be viewed in their entirety on the official website and mobile application, making it ViuTV's first program to offer both online and television versions.
The live stream and services are limited to Hong Kong. For Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern countries (including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia), viewers can rewatch ViuTV dramas, some variety shows, and talk shows through "Viu (Yellow Viu)". Taiwanese viewers can rewatch some programs through Taiwanese OTT platforms (such as LiTV, KKTV, LINE TV, etc.). Other overseas viewers can rewatch some programs through the YouTube channel "ViuTV World", or watch highlights on ViuTV's official Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels.
The official website and app previously offered a "Read TV" section (which was discontinued and cancelled on April 3, 2017), and instead, articles introducing the day's broadcast programs and program previews were uploaded to the official Facebook page.
From June 2018, the official website underwent a redesign, primarily involving changes to the webpage design, while the content remained largely the same.
From May 1, 2021, the official website tightened restrictions on program rewatching functionality. Only users who registered as free members on the official website could continue watching all programs; unregistered users could only watch the first three episodes and any new episodes airing within seven days of their broadcast.
