Now TV in Hong Kong

Now Broadband TV is a service from pccw in Hong Kong (and is restricted to Hong Kong). As the name suggests, channels are delivered via broadband Internet connection - if you subscribe, pccw supply a small box to transfer signals to your tv. Strong picture quality and sound: better than quality of terrestrial channels at my place; though also prone to halting during thunderstorms, as my broadband connection then stops n starts.

When I first subscribed, I thought broadband tv very futuristic. But after I experienced DVR set top box in UK, it seemed rather outmoded, chiefly as don't have recording function (not sure if there's now limited recording). TV schedules info is pretty poor - notably as only shows for current day, so as midnight approaches, can't see what's on next. Perhaps reflects PCCW top management not really caring about customers, or not being too bothered about competition outside occasional bidding contests over rights to UK soccer (which lately went to Wharf Cable).

We tend to get programmes shown months or years after they were first aired in US/UK - which doesn't stop announcers excitedly referring to "All-new" episodes, never mind if they've been aired months ago in Hong Kong (even a year and more ago overseas). Among the more extreme examples: Star TV airing the "all new" episodes of first season of Prison Break - with guys in jail, closely followed by TVP Pearl showing season two, with guys on the lam.

Overall - movie selections tend to be feeble, can be strong documentaries inc docudramas, and mixed bag of "entertainment" shows, with some strong series but fair bit of dross, and excessive repeats that are repeated, repeated again, and then aired one more time just so the broadcasters get their money's worth. Though I expect the broadcasters would respond that the money is small, especially for English language programmes in Hong Kong.

Now Broadband TV English channels

Children's

CBeebies

The BBC's kids' channel is strong, with shows for young children such as Teletubbies, Bill and Ben (yay! - Hello Little Weed!, tho not the same as when I was a kid), Big Cook, Little Cook ("We've got the campest kitchen in town!"). Not too long between repeats, though, with rather limited selection of shows.

Disney/ Playhouse Disney

The main Disney channel is for kids up to teenagers. Playhouse Disney for younger kids, with shows from US - such as, of course, Mickey Mouse; plus a few from UK, like Bob the Builder, and Chuggington.

[I haven't seen Baby TV; even the ads make me feel a bit bilious; and my lad's just that bit old for it. I never really thought too highly of things like Baby Einstein, anyway.]

TV Comedies/Dramas

AXN

Seems to be action-oriented, inc shows with guys fighting or pretending to fight (wrestling type stuff), cars zooming about, people doing barmy things in Fear Factor. A few good series - such as CSI (all three of em), Kidnapped, The Shield, House, Damages. Also shows the Amazing Race; and the feebler Amazing Race Asia. Seems to have gone downhill; maybe outbid for prime series by other channels.

AXN Beyond

Like AXN, seemed ok before, but perhaps gone downhill lately; my impression is that, lately, not a lot more than repeats of X-Files, plus some daft "reality" shows like people messing about in spooky type house.

BBC Entertainment

Was called BBC Prime - though I rather figured BBC Past Its Prime might be better, as almost no new shows, and plenty from the past; despite the name change, this remains the case. Prone to abundant repeats: if you haven't seen Absolutely Fabulous, Doctor Who by now, watch BBC Entertainment for a while, and you'll likely soon find them.Though at least the early evenings are no longer so dominated by shows re food and gardening - can't see many Hong Kong families have space for water features!
Catherine Tate among best comedies around at the moment. Also some good dramas, such as Waking the Dead, Spooks.

Oddly, during several shows there's tendency to have blurring over even a hint of female cleavage: whether in young teenage girls, young women, or even middle-aged women. I wondered if the shows involved had been readied for markets such as in the Middle East, but have learned since the cleavage censors are in Singapore, where maybe govt wishes people reproduced by asexual budding.

Star TV

Though Asian origin, airs mainly US shows, typically from series with episodes lasting half an hour or an hour (including adverts). Some pap, of course - I'm glad Fashion House has finished, for time being, but also good selection of watchable and strong shows, with comedies such as Malcolm in the Middle, The Simpsons, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives (latter more my wife's cup of tea). Also runs American Idol, and the excellent Heroes. 

It's here that I really notice fondness for announcing "all-new episodes" of series - even if these episodes aired aeons ago in US, where might be whole new season underway or finished by now.

Fox

The Fox channel arrived in spring 2010, with a variety of entertainment fare.

Fox Crime

Has a strong line up of crime shows. Mostly from US - like Dexter, NCIS, CSI; as well as a couple from Australia - Underbelly, Rush.

Movie [and Entertainment] Channels

HBO, HBO Hits, HBO Family, HBO Signature and Cinemax

A set of channels from Home Box Office. Tend to show uninspiring selection of movies - box office successes, perhaps, but rarely real interesting films, and little that's quirky (Being John Malkovich type, say). Instead, you're liable to find someone like Bruce Willis running around shooting guns, or some boys from da hood up to no good, fast cars racing around, and so on. (Yeah, get rather softer stuff on HBO Family, tho even here I've seen odd choices for kids. HBO Signature is supposedly for adults, but nothing too titillating when I've bothered checking.)

BUT - yes, big but - the HBO dramas are indeed often quirky, and can be superb. The Sopranos has to be king of these series, but also Deadwood, Carnivale, Six Feet Under (now finished), Rome (one season only, as yet), the Wire, True Blood, Entourage. All on HBO/HBO Signature. As with the beeb, may have to wait - and even wait a long time - before these make it here from the US. Rome perhaps made it quite fast, but last season of Sopranos taking yonks.

Star Movies

Another movie channel. Movies much as on HBO channels: ie, pretty sorry selection.

Hallmark

With this name, and logo suggesting there is strong link to greetings card company, I figured this would be mainly for soppy movies n dramas. But had a little crunchy drama, too - like Wire in the Blood. Though I'd thought you've gotta love a channel that shows a series called Doc Martin, it seems to get becalmed at times, showing movies and promotions for them umpteen times.

Sci Fi

Maybe better placed in Entertainment, as seems to often show tv series rather than movies. Including Stargate, Ghost Whisperer, and the outstanding Battlestar Galactica.

Documentaries

Discovery; Animal Planet; Discovery Science; Discovery Real Time; Home and Health; Travel and Living

A suite of channels from Discovery.

As you'd guess, Discovery is the prime channel, with a variety of documentaries.

Animal Planet also strong - mostly nature documentaries, a few covering captive animals (such as following US teams who're like animal cruelty cops). Not really a channel for wildllife lovers: fond of cheap thrillls, like animals attacking people - yet not much of people attacking animals, which is far far more common.

Discovery Science often covers technology rather than science, maybe looking at planes or whatever. Some good shows, inc on fossils, but seems they're often dated.

Discovery Real Time is for guys. But as I'm not into cars or fishing, I don't watch it. (C'mon, can't you think of other things guys are interested in?)

Home and Health seems more a women's channel. Getting along with spouses, giving birth, raising babies, fashion tips and so on.

Travel and Living can have some good shows.

National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, A1

Three channels from National Geographic.

Rather as with Discovery, the main channel - National Geographic - seems to have the key documentaries, covering wide range.

National Geographic Wild is indeed about wildlife, and people involved in wildlife and conservation. Like Discovery docs, strong emphasis on guys running about catching deadly snakes and the like.

Nat Geo Adventure is focused on adventure travel. At times look more amateurish than documentaries on main channel, but are people going to limits - running across deserts, climbing vast remote cliffs.

BBC: BBC Knowledge and BBC Lifestyle

Two relatively new channels from the BBC.

As you'd guess, Knowledge mainly includes documentaries, several of which are top-notch. Though also some reality shows. Top Gear shown, too: more entertainment than documentary.

Lifestyle has programmes as you may guess, inc on how to look younger, dress better...

History

Though the name suggests this might be dominated by pontificating professors in blazers, it seems a darn sight more entertaining than several of the "entertainment" channels, inc as sometimes has shows with dramatisations of history.

Sport

ESPN Star Sports Cricket Live

The channel is primarily aimed at India - so get adverts for India. Commentary ok: I think as tends to be per Sky TV in UK. But pricey, esp given that simply carries feeds from elsewhere, with repetitive music and uninformative text between this.

By no means always "Live", and far from comprehensive in coverage of international series.