Hong Kong director-actor Eric Tsang took on the role of TVB’s general manager in 2021, aiming to revive the station and win back audiences.
Now, four years later, the 72-year-old admits he may have bitten off more than he could chew.
Appearing as a guest on the final episode of talk show Friendship Has No Limits, Tsang opened up about the challenges he’s faced since becoming a TVB executive.
He told hosts Cutie Mui, Louis Yuen, and Elvina Kong that his children initially opposed the decision, asking why he’d take on such a high-pressure role at this point in life.
“You’re already under so much stress – why add more to your plate?” they told him, said Tsang.
When Mui mentioned he now has to wake up early to be in the office by 8am, the father of four replied: “I also thought it wouldn’t be that hard at first. But it turns out I really overestimated myself.”
He also noted lifestyle adjustments like following a schedule and tracking public holidays – things he rarely considered while working on movie sets.
Despite the challenges, Tsang said he felt a duty to give back to the industry that shaped him.
Since taking the job, he’s made it a mission to support new talent, often sacrificing sleep to review scripts from emerging directors and writers.
Kong pointed out that Tsang “can fall asleep anywhere” because he’s constantly exhausted.
Reflecting on his earlier career, Tsang said: “Back then, the hardest part was finding a boss willing to invest in a shoot. Now, I try my best to help where I can.”
As a mentor, Tsang looks for newcomers who are not only talented but have good character:
“I don’t want to bring bad people into this industry.”
