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The Government announced today (November 5) that the Chief Executive in Council (CE-in-Council) has approved in principle the applications of Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited (Metro), Phoenix U Radio Limited (Phoenix U) and Wave Media Limited (Wave Media) for 12-year sound broadcasting licences to provide territory-wide round-the-clock digital audio broadcasting (DAB) services in Hong Kong.
Speaking at a press conference today, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, said it signified a major step forward in the development of DAB services in Hong Kong.
"We expect that DAB services will be launched within 18 months of the grant of licences, that is sometime before mid-2012.
"This will bring more programme choice to the public, and foster market competition,กจ Mrs Lau said.
"The three applicants have committed to an investment of nearly $1 billion in the first six years of operation. This will be a significant boost to the broadcasting industry," she said.
The applications made by the companies and the recommendations of the Broadcasting Authority (BA) were considered by the CE-in-Council in accordance with the licensing criteria for sound broadcasting services applications prescribed in the Telecommunications Ordinance (the Ordinance).
The prospective DAB operators will be allocated frequencies in Band III to provide a total of 13 programme channels (three each for Metro and Phoenix U and seven for Wave Media) with MP3 sound quality based on DAB+ standard upon the grant of licences.
Mrs Lau added that the Radio Television Hong Kong would also launch its DAB services at around the same time.
The full capacity of the released Band III multiplex will be duly allocated to maximise utilisation of the valuable spectrum resources.
Early this year, the Government invited interested parties to submit applications for providing DAB services.
Also speaking at the press conference, the Chairman of the Broadcasting Authority, Mr Ambrose Ho, said: "We have vigorously examined the three applications in the past few months and have taken into account the views gathered at public consultation in formulating the recommendations. We believe that the launch of the new DAB services will forge a new landscape for our sound broadcasting services.
"The licensing requirements for DAB services will be similar to those for the existing analogue sound broadcasting services, but there will be provisions specific to DAB services and individual applicants," he said. (Key conditions of DAB licence are set out in Annex.)
The sound broadcasting licences to be granted, including the conditions to be imposed for compliance by the companies, will be prepared as soon as possible and submitted to the CE-in-Council for approval. The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau will set up a DAB Steering Committee comprising members from the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, RTHK and the three prospective licensees to promote the sustainable development of DAB services, which include monitoring the DAB take-up rate, network rollout and devising DAB publicity and promotion strategies.
Ends/Friday, November 5, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:38
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