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The Government announced today (July 9) that the Chief Executive in Council (CE-in-Council) has approved in principle the application of Wave Media Limited for a 12-year licence to establish and maintain a 24-hour Cantonese language Amplitude Modulation (AM) radio channel.
"The launch of a new sound broadcasting service will bring about positive gain to the local broadcasting industry and the overall economy. It will introduce more competition in the radio market, increase programming choices for the audience, promote research and development of new broadcasting technology, create job opportunities and train new talent," a Government spokesman said.
The application made by the company and the recommendations of the Broadcasting Authority (BA) were considered by the CE-in-Council in accordance with the Telecommunications Ordinance.
"The company's application was assessed in accordance with well-established criteria and factors for consideration, including the statutory requirements, the management, financial, programming and technical proposals of the application as well as the public views received by the BA," the spokesman said.
The company is assessed to be financially capable of establishing and maintaining the proposed service. The proposed radio service will be managed by personnel with broadcasting expertise and experience. The company has voluntarily committed to providing a performance bond of $2 million to safeguard the necessary construction of the transmission network and the rollout of service within 24 months from the grant of licence. The application is able to meet the relevant statutory requirements stipulated in the ordinance, including those relating to the Hong Kong residency requirement as well as cross-media ownership restrictions. Public views received by the BA also generally support the company's proposed introduction of a new radio channel in Hong Kong.
On January 7, 2008, the company submitted an application for a sound broadcasting licence for a territory-wide radio service at the frequency of AM 810 kHz, the only frequency channel remaining for territory-wide sound broadcasting service in analogue format. The company proposes to provide a round-the-clock radio channel with a diversity of knowledge-based programmes to the audience in Hong Kong. The BA issued a notice with a summary of the licence application to invite public views from February 26 to March 17, 2008. A summary of public views collected by the BA can be found at its website, www.hkba.hk.
The sound broadcasting licence to be granted, including the conditions to be imposed for compliance by the company, will be prepared as soon as possible and submitted to the CE-in-Council for approval.
Ends/Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:30
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