Mei Ah Entertainment
Hong Kong media company involved in film and television production, content distribution, cinema-related operations, television channels, and multimedia services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Mei Ah Entertainment Group Co., Ltd. is a Hong Kong media and entertainment company established in 1984 by Li Kuo Hsing in Kowloon Bay. The group began as a home-video distributor during a period when videocassettes and laser discs were important channels for bringing Hong Kong films and television dramas to consumers. Its early activities included the distribution of videocassette tapes and laser discs, and the Mei Ah name was used on distributed films and their physical-media packaging. The company expanded during the 1980s and became one of Hong Kong's significant distributors of films and television dramas. Its business model was initially centered on acquiring, packaging, marketing, and distributing audiovisual content, but it gradually broadened into other parts of the entertainment value chain. Mei Ah was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1993, giving the group a public-company structure as it continued to develop its media activities. From 1997 onward, Mei Ah increased its involvement in film investment and production and extended its distribution network beyond Hong Kong. The company subsequently developed regional and international distribution capabilities for Chinese-language and Asian film and television content. In 1999, it entered television-program production and distribution. From 2000, the group also pursued television-channel operation and multimedia distribution, working with television and telecommunications operators to launch or supply channels in several Asian markets. Its television-related activities have included drama and movie channels carried by pay-TV and satellite platforms. These included Mei Ah-branded services on now TV, Mio TV, SKY PerfecTV, and Taiwan's MOD platform. The group also participated in the launch of RED in Asia with HBO Asia in 2009; the service was later renamed RED by HBO. Other initiatives included video-on-demand and subscription video-on-demand services and a partnership with Playboy for Lifestyle TV, a men's lifestyle channel launched in 2013. Mei Ah's business therefore spans physical and digital content distribution, film investment and production, television programming, branded pay-TV channels, and multimedia delivery. Some individual channels have been discontinued, renamed, or moved between platforms as the regional pay-TV market changed. The company is best understood as a Hong Kong-origin content and distribution group whose operations have evolved alongside changes from physical home video to television networks, satellite distribution, and online video services.
History
Mei Ah Entertainment was founded in 1984 in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, by Li Kuo Hsing. Its original business was the distribution of videocassette tapes and laser discs, formats that played a major role in the circulation of Hong Kong films and television dramas before digital delivery became dominant. Mei Ah distributed film and television content under its own brand, with the name appearing on films and on the packaging of physical releases. During the 1980s, the group grew into one of Hong Kong's larger distributors of videofilms and television dramas. Its position was built on content acquisition, physical-media distribution, and the ability to reach consumers through the expanding home-video market. The business continued to grow and was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1993. A strategic broadening began in the late 1990s. From 1997, Mei Ah became more active in film investment and production and expanded its distribution network outside Hong Kong. This development moved the group beyond a pure distribution role and gave it interests in financing and creating content as well as circulating material produced by other parties. In 1999, the group added television-program production and distribution. From 2000, Mei Ah concentrated on film production, television-channel operation, and multimedia distribution. It cooperated with television and telecommunications networks to introduce channels and other content services across Asia. These activities included the Mei Ah Drama Channel on now TV from 2004, carrying dramas from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and mainland China. The company introduced the Mei Ah Movie Channel on now TV in 2005, initially presenting Hong Kong and other Asian films. The group also pursued distribution through other regional platforms. A Mei Ah Movie Channel operated on Singapore's Mio TV from 2007, while Mei Ah Japan Channel began broadcasting through SKY PerfecTV in Japan in 2008. Mei Ah later added a drama service on Mio TV and launched the Mei Ah HD Movie Channel on Taiwan's MOD platform in 2010. Channel arrangements changed over time: some services were discontinued, while the movie channel associated with now TV later returned through a TVB Network Vision channel and subsequently became available through myTV SUPER. Mei Ah's international television strategy included a partnership with HBO Asia. In December 2009, the companies launched RED in Asia. The channel was renamed RED by HBO in 2015. The group also developed on-demand distribution, providing video-on-demand and subscription video-on-demand services through Hong Kong's myTV SUPER platform. In December 2013, Mei Ah and Playboy collaborated on Lifestyle TV, positioned as a men's lifestyle channel for the Asia-Pacific market. This initiative illustrated the group's continuing effort to combine branded programming with established pay-TV and telecommunications distribution. Across its history, Mei Ah has consequently moved from physical home video into film investment, production, television programming, linear channels, satellite distribution, and digital video services. The available reference material does not establish a complete current operating profile for every business line or channel, and several historical channels have ceased transmission or changed platforms.
- 2015
RED renamed RED by HBO
[1]The channel launched with HBO Asia was rebranded RED by HBO.
- 2013
Lifestyle TV launched with Playboy
[1]Mei Ah and Playboy introduced Lifestyle TV as a men's lifestyle channel for the Asia-Pacific market.
- 2010
Mei Ah HD Movie Channel launched on MOD Taiwan
[1]The group launched an HD movie and drama channel on Taiwan's MOD platform.
- 2009
RED launched with HBO Asia
[1]Mei Ah and HBO Asia jointly launched the RED channel in Asia.
- 2008
Mei Ah Japan Channel launched
[1]Mei Ah Japan Channel began operating through SKY PerfecTV, distributing Hong Kong films and dramas by direct-to-home satellite transmission.
- 2007
Mei Ah Movie Channel added to Mio TV
[1]A Mei Ah movie service began broadcasting Hong Kong and Asian films on Mio TV.
- 2005
Mei Ah Movie Channel launched on now TV
[1]The company introduced a movie channel on now TV featuring Hong Kong and other Asian films.
- 2004
Mei Ah Drama Channel launched on now TV
[1]The channel began carrying Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, and mainland Chinese television dramas on now TV.
- 1999
Television production and distribution added
[1]The group entered television-program production and distribution.
- 1997
Expansion into film investment and production
[1]The group began actively investing in and producing films while extending its distribution network internationally.
Products and positioning
A Hong Kong-based Asian content and media-distribution group connecting film and television programming with regional broadcast, pay-TV, satellite, and digital platforms.
Content distribution · 1984
Film distribution
Film distribution was Mei Ah Entertainment's original core activity. The company distributed Hong Kong and Asian films through physical home-video formats and later through broader regional and international channels. Mei Ah-branded releases carried the company's identity on the film and packaging, helping establish it as a recognizable distributor during the videocassette and laser-disc era.
Film production · 1997
Film investment and production
Beginning in the late 1990s, the group expanded into film investment and production. This broadened its role from distributing third-party content to participating in the financing and creation of films, while maintaining distribution as a major part of its media business.
Television · 1999
Television-program production and distribution
Mei Ah entered television-program production and distribution in 1999. Its television activities have included the supply and packaging of drama and movie programming for regional television operators and the development of branded channels carrying Asian content.
Pay television · 2004
Mei Ah Drama Channel
The Mei Ah Drama Channel carried television dramas from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and mainland China. A service launched on now TV in 2004, while another Mei Ah drama service operated on Mio TV from 2008. The referenced now TV and Mio TV services were later discontinued.
Pay television · 2005
Mei Ah Movie Channel
Mei Ah Movie Channel has been used for services carrying Hong Kong and Asian movies on multiple platforms. It launched on now TV in 2005 and on Mio TV in 2007. The relevant services later changed platform or ceased transmission; a movie channel also became available through myTV SUPER.
Satellite television · 2008
Mei Ah Japan Channel
Mei Ah Japan Channel was introduced on SKY PerfecTV in Japan in 2008. It used direct-to-home satellite distribution to present Hong Kong films and dramas to Japanese viewers.
Pay television · 2010
Mei Ah HD Movie Channel
The Mei Ah HD Movie Channel launched on Taiwan's MOD platform in 2010, offering high-definition movies and television dramas. The service was later associated with a channel-number change on the platform.
Pay television · 2009
RED / RED by HBO
RED was an Asian television channel launched by Mei Ah Entertainment and HBO Asia in 2009. It was later renamed RED by HBO in 2015, reflecting its continuing association with HBO Asia.
Digital video
Video-on-demand and subscription video-on-demand services
The group has provided video-on-demand and subscription video-on-demand services in Hong Kong through myTV SUPER. These services represent Mei Ah's shift from physical media and linear channels toward digitally delivered film and television content.
Lifestyle television · 2013
Lifestyle TV
Lifestyle TV was launched with Playboy in 2013 as a men's lifestyle channel aimed at viewers aged 18 to 38 in the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative extended Mei Ah's channel portfolio beyond films and dramas into a branded lifestyle format.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Lifestyle TV launch
Asia-Pacific
Mei Ah partnered with Playboy to launch a men's lifestyle television channel aimed at adults aged 18 to 38.
Outcome. The reference material does not provide later audience, distribution, or financial results for the channel.
- 2009RED channel launch
Asia
Mei Ah Entertainment worked with HBO Asia to introduce RED, a regional television channel intended to distribute Asian entertainment content through pay-TV systems.
Outcome. The service was subsequently renamed RED by HBO in 2015.
Brand decisions
2013
Launch Lifestyle TV with PlayboyProduct launchBackground
The group sought to broaden its channel portfolio beyond film and drama programming.
Action taken
Mei Ah and Playboy launched Lifestyle TV for the Asia-Pacific market.
Aftermath
The reference material does not specify the channel's subsequent commercial performance or current availability.
2009
Launch RED with HBO AsiaProduct launchBackground
Mei Ah pursued regional television-channel partnerships to distribute Asian entertainment content.
Action taken
The group and HBO Asia launched RED in Asia.
Aftermath
The channel was later renamed RED by HBO in 2015.
2000
Develop television channels and multimedia distributionStrategyBackground
The company was expanding from physical content distribution into television and emerging multimedia-delivery businesses.
Action taken
Mei Ah focused on film production, television-channel operation, and multimedia distribution, cooperating with television and telecommunications networks.
Aftermath
This strategy led to a series of Mei Ah-branded channels and regional platform relationships.
1997
Move into film investment and productionStrategyBackground
After building a distribution business, Mei Ah sought a broader role in the film value chain and began actively investing in and producing films.
Action taken
The group expanded beyond distribution into film investment and production and extended its distribution network internationally.
Aftermath
The move established film creation and financing as additional areas of the group's entertainment operations.
Sources2 sources
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