# ATV World

ATV World, was one of two free-to-air English language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival TVB Pearl. Its sister station, ATV Home, broadcast in the Cantonese language. It is owned and operated by Asia Television, and was broadcast from the ATV Enterprises Office at 25–37 Dai Shing Street in Tai Po Innovation Park in Tai Po, which is in the Tai Po District, in the North East region of Hong Kong's New Territories.

## History

ATV World's English channel, Rediffusion Television, began as a cable-operated and subscription-based pay television service on 29 May 1957 known on-air as Rediffusion Television English Network
On 30 September 1963, the channel was renamed Rediffusion Television Cantonese Channel and Rediffusion Television English Channel. On 1 February 1967, the channels were renamed RTV-1 and RTV-2 respectively. On 1 December 1973, Rediffusion Television was granted a free-to-air terrestrial television broadcasting license for its two television channels, and closed its cable television channels. On 24 September 1982, Rediffusion Television was bought out by the new ATV, and consequently the Cantonese and English language channels were renamed ATV Cantonese and ATV English respectively. The channels were again renamed on 2 February 1987 as ATV Gold and ATV Diamond, and further renamed on 13 February 1989 as ATV Home and ATV World.
ATV World was a 24-hour channel with multi-lingual programmes, transmitted in NICAM in analogue version, and multiple AC-3 streams in digital version. While most of programmes were broadcast in Hong Kong English, a few were in either Standard Chinese, Korean or Japanese without Hong Kong English. It was less popular than its English-language rival station TVB Pearl, though by a far smaller margin than ATV Home's loss to Hong Kong Cantonese rival TVB Jade.
On 6 June 2012, ATV gained access to the London 2012 Olympic Games broadcast rights, and consequently the Games were shown on ATV World.
On 1 April 2015, Hong Kong's Executive Council announced that ATV's broadcast license would not be renewed. ATV ceased over-the-air transmission on 1 April 2016. ATV plans to continue its business as a satellite and online broadcaster.

## Shows

ATV World was one of two English-language channels that broadcast in Hong Kong. It offered a variety of programmes, mostly from the United States, ranging from popular serial dramas and films to documentaries and educational shows.
ATV stopped carrying the talk show Late Show with David Letterman (大衛牙擦騷) as of 1 January 2009, but there was a grassroots movement to bring it back. Arts and sports programming were also offered (e.g. local horse racing, in Chinese 賽馬直擊). Mandarin and Korean programmes were available on ATV World at off-peak hours.
ATV World's flagship English news programme was the "Main News and Weather Report at 7:30" provided under the collective effort of ATV News. It also relayed the Xinwen Lianbo news programme from Chinese television channel, CCTV-1, which is the primary channel of the Chinese television network, China Central Television (CCTV), in the People's Republic of China which is also available throughout Hong Kong.
Given its focus on Hong Kong English-language programming in a predominantly Hong Kong Cantonese-speaking market, ATV World carried relatively little advertising and was subsidised by ATV Home. Both of the-then free-to-air television companies in Hong Kong were required by the government to provide a Hong Kong English-language service. In the face of competition from TVB Pearl, ATV World had in recent years switched its focus from the provision of drama and movies to documentaries and natural history shows, probably because such programming is less expensive to acquire.
Since the Hong Kong government does not have its own television station, its agency Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) required the-then two domestic free television stations to broadcast their programmes and advertisements. One of the well known programmes is Educational Television (ETV) which began in 1971. This followed the Hong Kong education syllabus, serving as a reference for primary and secondary school students of mathematics, Hong Kong English, Putonghua and other school subjects. During the thirty-two-week school year, ETV programmes were shown on ATV World from 10:00 to 12:00 and TVB Pearl from 14:00 to 16:00 each weekday.

### Non-English programmes

Both ATV World and TVB Pearl were permitted by the Broadcasting Authority of Hong Kong to broadcast non-Hong Kong English programmes for up to 20% of their daily transmission time, outside peak viewing time. In fact, only 12% of TVB Pearl programmes are in languages other than Hong Kong English: 83.6% of those (10% of its total transmission time) are in Hong Kong Cantonese. The remainder include broadcasts in Japanese, Korean, Filipino and Hong Kong Cantonese.

## List of Programmes
### Imported Programmes
#### Comedy

* The 5 Mrs. Buchanans
* ALF
* American Dreamer
* Bagdad Cafe
* Check It Out!
* Clarence
* Dad's Army
* Full House
* Get Smart
* The Happy Apple
* I Love Lucy
* The Latest Buzz
* Maniac Mansion
* Mister Ed
* Mr Bean
* The Munsters Today
* My Favorite Martian
* One Foot in the Grave
* On the Buses
* Perfect Strangers
* Punky Brewster
* Saved by the Bell
* Silver Spoons
* Sledge Hammer!
* Starting from Scratch
* Too Close for Comfort
* Two and a Half Men

#### Lifestyle

* Fame, Fortune and Romance

#### Drama

* The Adventures of the Black Stallion
* Agatha Christie's Marple
* Ally McBeal
* The Avengers
* The Beachcombers
* Beautiful People
* Beverly Hills, 90210
* Bring 'Em Back Alive
* The Byrds of Paradise
* Cagney & Lacey
* China Beach
* Commander in Chief
* The Commish
* E-Ring
* Fantasy Island
* G.P.
* Heart of the City
* Hunter
* Inspector Morse
* Jake and the Fatman
* Katts and Dog
* Lassie
* Life on Mars
* Martial Law
* Miami Vice
* Murphy's Law
* Perry Mason
* Private Practice
* Robin Hood
* The Saint
* T.J. Hooker
* Xena: Warrior Princess

#### Reality

* Oprah's Big Give
* True Beauty

#### Animated

* The Adventures of Blinky Bill
* The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda
* The Adventures of Gulliver
* The Adventures of Paddington Bear
* Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
* The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
* Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers
* The Adventures of Tintin
* Albert the Fifth Musketeer
* ALF: The Animated Series
* AlfTales
* All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series
* All Grown Up!
* All-New Dennis the Menace
* The All-New Popeye Show
* Alvin and the Chipmunks
* The Amazing Adventures of Morph
* Angelmouse
* The Angry Beavers
* Animalia
* Anytime Tales
* Aquaman
* Archibald the Koala
* Archie's TV Funnies
* Around the World in 80 Dreams
* Arthur
* Astro Boy
* Astro Farm
* Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
* Babar
* Back at the Barnyard
* Back to the Future
* Barney
* Barney Google and Snuffy Smith
* Basket Fever
* The Beatles
* Beethoven
* Beverly Hills Teens
* Bill and Ben
* Bill the Minder
* Billy the Cat
* Blake and Mortimer
* Blinky Bill's Extraordinary Excursion
* Bob Morane
* Bob the Builder
* The Bored Witch
* Brambly Hedge
* Brats of the Lost Nebula
* Bright Sparks
* The Brollys
* Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars
* Caillou
* Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
* Captain Flamingo
* Captain Planet and the Planeteers
* The Care Bears
* Casper and the Angels
* Cattanooga Cats
* Channel Umptee-3
* Clifford's Puppy Days
* Clue Club
* Coconuts
* The Comic Strip
* The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley
* Cool McCool
* The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures
* Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
* Cricket Specials
* Crusader Rabbit
* Cyberchase
* Danger Mouse
* Danny Phantom
* Devlin
* Dexter's Laboratory
* Dilbert
* Dinosaucers
* Dino-Riders
* Diplodos
* Dog City
* Donkey Kong Country
* Double Dragon
* Doug
* Dr Otter
* Drak Pack
* The Dukes
* Dungeons & Dragons
* Dynomutt, Dog Wonder
* Erky Perky
* Ethelbert the Tiger
* Fables of the Green Forest
* Fabulous Funnies
* The Fairly OddParents!
* Fairy Tale Police Department
* The Fairytaler
* The Fantastic Flying Journey
* Fantastic Four
* Fantastic Max
* The Fantastic Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor
* Fennec
* Felix the Cat
* Fievel's American Tails
* Finley the Fire Engine
* Fireman Sam
* The Flintstones
* Florrie's Dragons
* Fly Tales
* Flying Rhino Junior High
* The Forgotten Toys
* Frankenstein, Jr. and The Impossibles
* Frankenstein's Cat
* Franny's Feet
* Fred Basset
* Funny Little Bugs
* Garbage Pail Kids
* George of the Jungle
* George Shrinks
* Gilligan's Planet
* The Gingerbread Man
* Grabbit the Rabbit
* Growing Up Creepie
* Guess with Jess
* Gumby
* G-Force
* Hammerman
* Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs
* The Harveytoons Show
* Henry's World
* Here Comes the Grump
* The Herculoids
* Hey Arnold!
* Howdi Gaudi
* The Huckleberry Hound Show
* Hurricanes
* The Hydronauts
* The Incredible Hulk
* Insektors
* It's Punky Brewster!
* The Jetsons
* Johnny Cypher in Dimension Zero
* Juanito Jones
* The Karate Kid
* Kimba the White Lion
* Kipper
* Kissyfur
* The Koala Brothers
* The Legend of White Fang
* Lassie's Rescue Rangers
* Little Bill
* Little Bear
* The Little Green Man
* The Little Lulu Show
* Little Monsters
* Little Princess
* Little Robots
* Lunar Jim
* Madballs
* Madeline
* Maggie and the Ferocious Beast
* The Magic Key
* The Magic School Bus
* Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies
* Marine Boy
* Martin Morning
* Max & Ruby
* Maya the Honey Bee
* Meeow!
* Merlin the Magical Puppy
* Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone
* The Mighty Hercules
* Mike, Lu & Og
* A Miss Mallard Mystery
* The Morph Files
* Mr Bean: The Animated Series
* Mr. Magoo
* Mr Men and Little Miss
* Mumble Bumble
* My Dad the Rock Star
* My Pet Monster
* The New Adventures of Captain Planet
* The New Adventures of He-Man
* The New Adventures of Kimba The White Lion
* The New Adventures of Madeline
* The New Fred and Barney Show
* Oakie Doke
* OOglies
* Oscar's Orchestra
* Pablo the Little Red Fox
* Paddington
* Peep and the Big Wide World
* Peppa Pig
* The Perils of Penelope Pitstop
* Percy the Park Keeper
* Pigeon Boy
* The Pirates of Dark Water
* Pocket Dragon Adventures
* Poko
* Pongwiffy
* Popeye and Son
* Popeye the Sailor Man
* Postman Pat
* Postman Pat Special Delivery Service
* The Powerpuff Girls
* Preston Pig
* Project G.e.e.K.e.R.
* Rainbow Fish
* The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
* The Real Story of...
* Robotech
* Rolie Polie Olie
* Rotten Ralph
* Rugrats
* Rupert Bear, Follow the Magic...
* Saban's Gulliver's Travels
* Samurai X
* The Secret World of Santa Claus
* Sheep in the Big City
* Shirt Tales
* The Simpsons
* Skunk Fu!
* Small Stories
* Something Else
* Sonic the Hedgehog
* Speed Racer
* Spider!
* Spider Riders
* Spider-Man
* Spider-Man Unlimited
* Spiral Zone
* SpongeBob SquarePants
* Starcom: The U.S. Space Force
* Star Wars: Droids
* Star Wars: Ewoks
* Storybook Classics
* Super Mario World
* Sylvanian Families
* Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle
* Teen Wolf
* The Tick
* Toad Patrol
* ToddWorld
* Tom & Jerry Kids
* Top Cat
* A Town Called Panic
* The Transformers
* Transformers: Cybertron
* The Trap Door
* The Triplets
* Trouble with Sophie
* Upstairs, Downstairs Bears
* Vicky the Viking
* Voltron: Defender of the Universe
* We All Have Tales
* What's New Mr. Magoo?
* What-a-Mess
* Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch
* The Wild Thornberrys
* Will & Dewitt
* Wish Kid
* The Wizard of Oz
* Witch World
* Wobbly Land
* Wonder Pets
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
* The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends
* X-Men
* Xcalibur
* Yoho Ahoy
* Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto!
* Young Robin Hood
* The Zeta Project
* Zorro: Generation Z

#### Soap Opera

* EastEnders
* General Hospital
* Knots Landing
* Santa Barbara

#### Magic

* The Paul Daniels Magic Show

#### Children's Programmes

* The Adventures of Black Beauty
* Against the Odds
* Aliens in the Family
* Allegra's Window
* Animal Kwackers
* The Ark Stories
* A.J.'s Time Travelers
* A*mazing
* Backyard Science
* The Banana Splits
* Barney & Friends
* Beakman's World
* Bear in the Big Blue House
* Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince
* Between the Lions
* Blue's Clues
* Bookmice
* Cable Cook
* Century Falls
* Chicken Minute
* Children's Dreams
* Construction Site
* The Crayon Box
* Deepwater Black
* The Electric Company
* Elly & Jools
* Eureeka's Castle
* The Famous Five
* Forget Me Not Farm
* Geographical Eye
* Glad Rags
* The Great Space Coaster
* The Hallo Spencer Show
* The Henderson Kids
* Hullabaloo
* In the Night Garden
* Inquiring Minds
* Into the Labyrinth
* Iris, The Happy Professor
* Jack in the Box
* Jim Henson's Animal Show
* John Ross
* The Journey of Allen Strange
* Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde
* Kelly
* Kevin and Co.
* Kids' Court
* Little Star
* Mac and Muttley
* The Magic Corner
* Maid Marian and Her Merry Men
* Mission Top Secret
* Mopatop's Shop
* My Animal Dictionary
* My Secret Identity
* National Geographic Kids
* The New Lassie
* Numberjacks
* Ocean Girl
* The Odyssey
* On the Box
* OWL/TV
* Pinwheel
* Popular Mechanics for Kids
* Really Wild Animals
* The Sarah Jane Adventures
* Sci-Squad
* Shining Time Station
* Sigmund and the Sea Monsters
* The Skatebirds
* Space Cases
* Spatz
* Spellbinder
* Standby...Lights! Camera! Action!
* Take Off
* Teletubbies
* Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
* Tricky TV
* The Tripods
* Troublemakers
* T. and T.
* Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
* Wide World of Kids
* Wimzie's House
* The Wonderful World of Animals
* Yo Gabba Gabba!
* Zoo Family

#### Magazine

* Cybernet

#### Documentary

* Cadillac Desert
* Futurequest
* Rescue 911
* Sea Trek

#### Cooking

* Pierre Franey's Cooking in America
* Rick Stein's Seafood Odyssey
* Yan Can Cook

#### Western

* The Lazarus Man

#### Talk shows

* The Late Show with David Letterman

#### Christian

* Hour of Power

#### Aerobics

* Aerobics Oz Style

## Schedules

Schedules were published in the South China Morning Post, The Standard and in other daily Hong Kong newspapers, including Chinese newspapers. ATV World operated its own official website which contained information about the programmes shown by the channel, and a streamed version of ATV News in English.