Expect major changes on TVB's drama programs in 2016 following the power struggle between Catherine Tsang and Sandy Yu, who are squaring it off for supremacy in the drama department.

Sandy Yu is seen emerging as winner while Catherine Tsang is steadily losing her grip as the disappointing ratings and poor reviews of the station's drama showed after she took over in 2014. 

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Mark Lee, CEO of TVB Group, announced that the drama department will go through a major overhaul in 2016 to rescue the studio's declining audience share, and that he needs the help of executive Sandy Yu for that.

To Chi Hak was already appointed assistant general manager to take care of the department's resources while Peter Au, who used to manage the department's funds, was transferred to the art and makeup department. Au was also appointed to work with the station's visual effects partner Zenith Digital Creation.

Lee admitted that TVB needs a serious overhaul to survive and keep up with the competition. He emphasized that it is most important to address the demands of the dynamic market in this ever-competitive age.

"There are three points: [we] need to make [programs] that are unstinted, have substance, and are youthful. And because we will be establishing a second broadcasting platform next year, the workload has increased. This is why we need a revamp," Lee said.

Yu's track record in the variety show department is pretty remarkable. Since 2014, TVB's variety programs, like Big Big World, DoDo Goes Shopping, and Four Amigos Bon Voyage, were winners in the ratings.

Her suggestion to include the non-local drama The Empress of China  in the primetime slot turned out to be a wise decision for the station. The Empress of China emerged as Hong Kong's second most-watched drama of the year with its final episode the most-watched episode of 2015.  

The revamp did not only affect the executives but also the artists. Charmaine Sheh, who is an original cast of Line Walker, was reportedly dropped from the sequel because of her huge talent fee. Yu recommended that Kenneth Ma and Tavia Yeung join the cast instead, but this was opposed by Catherine Tsang.

Catherine's fall from grace also caused a backlash for celebrities in her "camp." Take the case of Ruco Chan, one of TVB's biggest artists, who failed to snag the TV King award. Raymond Wong, Maggie Shiu, and Kenny Wong, also in Tsang's camp, are having a hard time getting drama roles.

TagsTVB, catherine tsang, sandy yu, Charmaine Sheh, Ruco Chan