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The following is issued on behalf of the Broadcasting Authority:
As part of the public consultation exercise for the mid-term review of domestic free television programme service licences, the Broadcasting Authority (BA) conducted three public hearings, apart from commissioning a public opinion survey and organising focus group discussions, to gauge public views on various aspects of the performance of Asia Television Limited and Television Broadcasts Limited.
Over 700 members of the public participated in the three public hearings conducted in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories in June and July 2009. Views were expressed on programme diversity, quality, schedule, digital terrestrial television service, editorial independence of news reporting, competition and other aspects of the broadcastersˇ¦ performance. The BA and representatives of the two licensees and relevant government departments also attended the hearings. The BA will give careful consideration to the valuable public views received through the various channels in the mid-term review when making recommendations to the Chief Executive-in-Council by the end of 2009.
A summary of views collected in the three public hearings is available at the BA website (www.hkba.hk).
The BA noted that in June 2009, the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing (CTEL) dealt with 112 cases (305 complaints) under her delegated authority, of which two cases (two complaints) were classified as minor breaches and 77 cases (228 complaints) were unsubstantiated. The remaining 33 cases (75 complaints) were held to be outside the ambit of the Broadcasting Authority Ordinance. The monthly complaints figures dealt with by CTEL since June 2008 are shown in Figure 1. A chart showing the nature of the unsubstantiated complaints in June 2009 is at Figure 2. Please visit the BA website for further information on the complaints.
Ends/Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:00
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