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The following is issued on behalf of the Broadcasting Authority:
The Broadcasting Authority (BA) will publish a notice tomorrow (February 26) on the BA website (www.hkba.hk), the South China Morning Post and Ming Pao, setting out details of the application of Wave Media Limited (Wave Media) for a sound broadcasting license. Members of the public are invited to express their views on the application and, in particular, on the information relating to the corporate, financial, programming and technical aspects as submitted by the applicant.
As stated in the application, Wave Media has a total of nine shareholders including businessmen, bankers, investors, professionals and media executives. The applicant plans to inject up to $140 million into the company after the license has been granted. According to the submission, initial capital investment is estimated at $39 million for the construction of the infrastructure, and loss is projected at $69 million for the early stage of operation.
The application involves the operation of a single territory-wide radio channel at 810 kHz in the AM frequency band, which is the only vacant frequency channel for providing sound broadcasting service in Hong Kong on a territory-wide basis.
The applicant plans to broadcast 24 hours a day, 168 hours a week, locally produced Chinese language programmes to meet the needs of radio audiences who are interested in information about Hong Kong, the Mainland and the world. It plans to start its service within 12 months from the date the license is granted.
In its submission, the applicant states that the contribution it will bring to the community includes creating jobs, upgrading the overall standards of the industry, introducing a new broadcasting and operational model, promoting research and development of broadcasting technology, and training new broadcasting talent.
Under section 13C of the Telecommunications Ordinance, the Chief Executive in Council is the authority to approve, or otherwise, an application for a sound broadcasting license upon the recommendation of the BA. Although the ordinance does not require the BA to consult the public on granting of a sound broadcasting license, the BA will, according to the "Guide to the Consultation Process of the BA" promulgated in 2006, publish a notice about the application in daily newspapers in Hong Kong for public consultation for 21 days.
The BA will consider representations from the public as well as relevant factors, including but not limited to the feasibility of the applicant's technical proposal on the use of frequency spectrum, the management, financial and technical capability of the applicant to establish and maintain a sound broadcasting service, etc., before making its recommendations to the Chief Executive in Council.
Members of the public can submit their comments in writing to the BA by March 17, 2008, through any of the following means -
By Post: The Broadcasting Authority
c/o Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority
39/F, Revenue Tower
5 Gloucester Road
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
By Fax: +852 2507 2219 (Open)
+852 2598 5509 (Confidential)
By e-mail: ba@tela.gov.hk
Ends/Monday, February 25, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:30
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