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The following is issued on behalf of the Broadcasting Authority:
This press release summarises the outcome of Broadcasting Authority (BA)'s deliberations in April 2011:
Radio Codes of Practice
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In April 2011, the BA, having regard to the recommendation made by its Codes of Practice Committee and upon consulting the relevant licensees and the public, issued a new set of Radio Codes of Practice on standards of ancillary visual service (AVS) to be provided in conjunction with digital audio broadcasting (DAB) services.
In March 2011, the Chief Executive in Council granted Digital Broadcasting Corporation Hong Kong Limited (formerly known as Wave Media Limited), Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited and Phoenix U Radio Limited sound broadcasting licences to provide DAB services in Hong Kong. It is expected that DAB services will be formally launched within this year.
In addition to the broadcast of audio contents, DAB also supports the transmission of AVS, viz an ancillary service to transmit visual images in digital form for display on the screens of DAB receivers. To ensure proper standards of AVS, the BA approved the issuance of two sets of AVS Codes (one on AVS in general and the other on advertising in AVS in particular) which were prepared in the light of the standards adopted in the existing Radio Codes of Practice, with necessary modifications with regard to the relevant provisions in the TV Codes of Practice to reflect the visual nature of AVS. The AVS Codes have taken effect on April 28, 2011.
Non-domestic television programme service licence
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The BA accepted the application of MATV Limited (MATV) to surrender its non-domestic television programme service licence with effect from March 31, 2011. The BA noted that the surrender of licence was purely a commercial decision of MATV.
Complaint cases
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The BA also considered a public complaint against the television programme "Masked Rider The Next" broadcast on the Cable Children Channel of Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (HKCTV) on October 30, 2010. The BA decided that HKCTV should be warned to observe more closely the relevant provisions in the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programme Standards. Further details of the case are available in the Appendix.
The BA noted that in March 2011, the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing (CTEL) dealt with 125 cases (305 complaints) under its delegated authority, of which 13 cases (16 complaints) were classified as minor breaches and 51 cases (97 complaints) were unsubstantiated. The remaining 61 cases (192 complaints) were held to be outside the ambit of the Broadcasting Authority Ordinance. The monthly complaint figures dealt with by CTEL from March 2010 to March 2011 are shown in Figure 1. A chart showing the respective nature of the unsubstantiated complaints classified by CTEL in March 2011 is at Figure 2. A chart showing the respective nature of complaints which were classified as minor breaches is at Figure 3. Further information about the complaints is available at the BA website (www.hkba.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:01
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