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The following is issued on behalf of the Broadcasting Authority:
In June, the Broadcasting Authority (BA) approved Asia Television Limited (ATV) and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) to extend the coverage of their digital terrestrial television (DTT) services to 85% by December 31.
ATV and TVB have progressively extended their digital transmission networks from 50% of the population upon service launch on December 31, 2007 to 75% coverage by August 2008 after the completion of the six main transmission stations and one fill-in station. The licensees plan to further extend the coverage to 85% of the population before the end of 2009, and bring the digital coverage on a par with the current analogue coverage (i.e. 99% of the population) by 2011. The licensees・ roll-out plans are in compliance with the Implementation Framework for DTT Broadcasting promulgated by the Government in July 2004.
Section 18(1) of the Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap. 562) requires ATV and TVB to provide their television programme services in such manner as to enable their services to be received throughout Hong Kong to the satisfaction of the Broadcasting Authority. Section 18(2) of the Broadcasting Ordinance empowers the Broadcasting Authority to exempt the licensees from providing coverage to certain parts of Hong Kong.
After consideration of the licensees・ network roll-out plans and the advice of the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA), the Broadcasting Authority decided to extend the exemption for territory-wide coverage until June 30, 2010, subject to the condition that the licensees・ DTT services should cover at least 85% of the population by December 31, 2009. The licensees are required to submit auditors・ certificates to certify the progress of their coverage roll-out plans. The BA will monitor the implementation of the coverage plans of the licensees in consultation with OFTA.
The above exemption is specific to the licensee・s DTT coverage. The two licensees will continue to be required to provide their analogue TV services on a territory-wide basis up to the satisfaction of the Broadcasting Authority. A copy of the Broadcasting Authority・s Guideline on Exemption from Service Provision Requirements, promulgated in 2001 and still in force, can be found at the Broadcasting Authority website: www.hkba.hk.
In June, the Broadcasting Authority also approved ATV・s application to change the launching date of its standard definition television channel on the DTT platform, i.e. ATV Infotainment Channel, from July 1 as earlier approved by the Broadcasting Authority to October 1. ATV has pledged that this channel would consist of at least 20% locally produced programmes.
The Broadcasting Authority held the first public hearing session for the mid-term review of the domestic free television programme service licences of ATV and TVB on June 19. Another two public hearing sessions will be held at the Leighton Hill Community Hall and Tuen Mun Town Hall from 7pm to 9pm on July 14 (Tuesday) and July 24 (Friday) respectively. Members of the public are invited to attend the public hearing and give their views on the licensees' performance since the licences were renewed for a period of 12 years beginning December 2003 by the Chief Executive in Council.
The Broadcasting Authority noted that in May, the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing (CTEL) dealt with 163 cases (588 complaints) under her delegated authority, of which four cases (four complaints) were classified as minor breaches and 115 cases (497 complaints) were unsubstantiated. The remaining 44 cases (87 complaints) were held to be outside the ambit of the Broadcasting Authority Ordinance. The monthly complaints figures dealt with by CTEL since May 2008 are shown in Figure 1. A chart showing the respective natures of the unsubstantiated complaints in May 2009 is at Figure 2. Please visit the Broadcasting Authority website for further information of the complaints.
Ends/Monday, June 29, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:00
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