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The Government today (November 11) announced that the Chief Executive in Council (CE-in-Council) had granted Wave Media Limited a 12-year licence to establish and maintain a new radio channel at the frequency of Amplitude Modulation (AM) 810 kHz.
"The licence is granted under the provisions of the Telecommunications Ordinance. The general licence terms and conditions are similar to those of the incumbent sound broadcasting licences, with changes made where matters relate specifically to Wave Media," a government spokesman said.
Under the licence, Wave Media shall start its AM broadcast within two years from the grant of licence today. It is required to pay an annual licence fee calculated on a full-cost recovery basis.
"Wave Media shall be bound by all the commitments made in relation to the licence application, including but not limited to its pledge to uphold freedom of expression," the spokesman said.
Wave Media shall provide a $2 million performance bond to ensure that it will begin its service as committed. It is also required to abide by statements made in its submission in respect of continuous investment throughout the licensing period.
It shall broadcast for 24 hours per day, mainly in Cantonese. Similar to the incumbent licensees, Wave Media is subject to the minimum requirements for the provision of news and weather reports, current affairs programmes, programmes for young people and senior citizens, arts and cultural programmes, announcement in the public interest and publicity material of the Broadcasting Authority.
Wave Media submitted an application for a sound broadcasting licence on January 7 and the CE-in-Council approved in principle the application at its meeting on July 9. The application has been processed in accordance with law and established procedures.
Ends/Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:00
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