Hong Kong’s Channel C faces ’emergency’ funding situation, seeking public support for survival

The online media “Channel C” declared “emergency”. Channel C last night (8th) YouTube Live, mentioned that the monthly operating expenses of the media are as high as 600,000 yuan, but the number of member subscriptions is not ideal, and the funds on hand are only enough to operate for one month. Once enough funds are raised, Channel C will close its operations on July 12, the day of its 2nd anniversary. Channel C said,There are currently “Standard” and “Light” paid membership plans, with a monthly fee as low as 38 yuan. Channel C Multimedia Production Director Chen Langsheng, who is also the chairman of the Journalists Association, said this morning (9th) that he dared not say too long-term, but hoped that this “emergency” could bring the company an additional 3 months of operating time.

Chen Langsheng, Director of Multimedia Production of Channel C, who is also the chairman of the Journalists Association, said this morning (9th) on the commercial program “Departure on a Sunny Day” that he understands that the outside world thinks their operating expenses are relatively high. He explained that many online media are Mainly text reports, but Channel C mainly requires video reports, and colleagues need to go out for interviews. “Someone needs to be filmed, someone needs to be edited, and someone needs to help digest the news”, so the cost is relatively high. Chen Langsheng said that after the launch of the membership system, all the content of Channel C will still be open to the public for free, but if the number of paying members is low, it will always be difficult to achieve a balance of payments.

Chen Langsheng said that the company has explained the company’s financial situation to the employees earlier, indicating that if the employees are hired outside, they can consider finding another job; he said that some colleagues have left, and there are only 2 or 3 people left in the real-time news department. ” The real thing is the live broadcast and me, and the writing is me.”

Chen Langsheng reminded,Citizens must pay for subscription through a third-party payment platform authorized by Channel CDo not support with cash or large donations, otherwise you may fall into suspicion of “suspicious transactions”, money laundering or even illegal crowdfunding.

In the middle of 2021, the National Security Department of the police searched Next Media, “Apple Daily” and others closed their operations, and Channel C also opened on July 12, 2021, indicating that it was founded by the former employees of “Apple” and belongs to the media of the “Post-Next Media” period one. Channel C featured video reports, among which the “narrator” of “Apple” News was also an employee of Channel C, and the videos narrated by him have always been popular. In addition, Channel C uses the “Jianghu Express” column to follow up news from social groups from time to time. It is one of the few media in Hong Kong that still follows news from social groups and triads.

Text / “Yahoo News” reporter