*****************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Broadcasting Authority:
At its meeting on March 21, the Broadcasting Authority approved the updated programming investment plan up to 2009 on digital terrestrial television programme services of Asia Television Limited (ATV) (Note 1).
ATV has proposed to reorganise its digital channels starting from April 1, 2009. ATV will extend its high definition television (HDTV) capacity from currently only two hours per day on average to a full-fledged 24-hour HDTV channel. ATV will introduce HDTV programming wholly of Hong Kong origin of at least 24.5 hours per week initially (i.e. from April to June, 2009) and thereafter at least 38.5 hours per week. In addition, ATV will provide two standard definition television (SDTV) channels (CCTV-4 and a new Taiwanese channel CTI-Asia) from April 1, 2009 and then launch the third one, SDTV infotainment channel mainly consisting of Hong Kong originated programmes, starting July 1, 2009. All the three SDTV channels will also be broadcast 24 hours daily.
While ATV's overall programming investment for the analogue and simulcast channels from 2004 to 2009 and the commitment on capital expenditure for in-station facilities in 2009 will remain unchanged, the proposed investment for new digital channels for the year 2009 will be revised from $200 million to $177.5 million due to savings in the cost of programming.
In approving ATV's application, the Broadcasting Authority has noted that the overall scale of digital content provided by ATV is comparable to its original plan in 2005, while ATV will put more emphasis on HD content including local HD production in response to market and technology development. The latter was in line with the Government's policy to launch new applications like HDTV programmes with the introduction of DTT service.
Note 1: ATV will submit its six-year programming and investment plans (including their DTT programme investment plans) for 2010-2015 for the Broadcasting Authority's examination in the context of the mid-term review of the domestic free television programme service licences later this year.
Ends/Monday, March 23, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:57
NNNN
