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Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
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TV station on thin ice over injuries
ViuTV has come under considerable criticism online for trying to shirk legal responsibilities for possible injuries caused to actors while filming a new ice hockey drama.
The criticism came after the TV station on Monday posted an ad on social media recruiting ice hockey athletes to film in the drama, but its terms and condition state that the production unit will not take any responsibility for participants' damages due to the filming of this drama.
However, people online have found the TV station states in its contract with actors that it will not be responsible for any injury that occurs to participants during filming for the drama.
"To the fullest extent permitted by law, the producer and TV station will not be responsible for any damages, injuries, loss of personal property, expense, accidents, delays and inconvenience arising directly or indirectly from the audition, filming and promotion of the drama or anything else related to it, even if they were caused by the negligence or misconduct of the TV station," the contract says.
The company was criticized online for "being smart" in finding ways to protect itself after the Mirror concert accident.
"It has learned a lesson from the Mirror accident and become even more shameless. The producing team or ViuTV won't be responsible for any accident even if it was caused by their misconduct," one said.
"I assume it will not buy any insurance for actors. Actors should calculate how much they can earn after deducting the cost of buying their own insurance," the netizen added.
"Is there a professional ice hockey consultant? Ice hockey can be very dangerous so don't risk actors' lives," another said.
Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung said such terms may not be legally valid.
The company said it will not be responsible for any injury "if the production unit is not guilty of gross negligence," he said, "but what's the definition of 'gross negligence?'"
Many words used in the contract struck Luk as very vague, which leaves room for arguments if any incident happens.
Private contracts are not above the law, even if both parties agreed to them. "If there are accidents, the law states no one can be exempted from responsibilities," he said, but the safest option for actors and other participants in the drama is to refuse to sign such a contract.
However, people online have found the TV station states in its contract with actors that it will not be responsible for any injury that occurs to participants during filming for the drama.
"To the fullest extent permitted by law, the producer and TV station will not be responsible for any damages, injuries, loss of personal property, expense, accidents, delays and inconvenience arising directly or indirectly from the audition, filming and promotion of the drama or anything else related to it, even if they were caused by the negligence or misconduct of the TV station," the contract says.
The company was criticized online for "being smart" in finding ways to protect itself after the Mirror concert accident.
"It has learned a lesson from the Mirror accident and become even more shameless. The producing team or ViuTV won't be responsible for any accident even if it was caused by their misconduct," one said.
"I assume it will not buy any insurance for actors. Actors should calculate how much they can earn after deducting the cost of buying their own insurance," the netizen added.
"Is there a professional ice hockey consultant? Ice hockey can be very dangerous so don't risk actors' lives," another said.
Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung said such terms may not be legally valid.
The company said it will not be responsible for any injury "if the production unit is not guilty of gross negligence," he said, "but what's the definition of 'gross negligence?'"
Many words used in the contract struck Luk as very vague, which leaves room for arguments if any incident happens.
Private contracts are not above the law, even if both parties agreed to them. "If there are accidents, the law states no one can be exempted from responsibilities," he said, but the safest option for actors and other participants in the drama is to refuse to sign such a contract.
