For a commercial broadcaster, change is a matter of survival - once branded complacent by advertisers, a commercial station will find it difficult to make up lost ground. It is supposed to be our station of conscience, the station that fills in the gaps left by deficiencies in commercial broadcasting. Hong Kong's stock market has about 900,000 regular investors, according to a survey by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. Clearly, however, this is not going to happen. Nowadays, investors can access financial information via the Internet, cable television and mobile telephones.
Newspapers are also full of advice and commentary.
Radio does not enjoy an edge over other media in terms of content and timeliness. Listeners are rather limited in number, and the subset of those interested in financial information is even smaller. RTHK, Metro Finance and Commercial Radio are now vying for this small market. The final outcome of this unhealthy competition is not too difficult to imagine. Most of the small investors who tune in to the financial segments on local radio are interested only in practical tips that can help them make a decision about their next transaction.