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The following is issued on behalf of the Broadcasting Authority:
This press release summarises the outcome of the Broadcasting Authority (BA)'s deliberations in July 2011:
The BA received a total of 41 complaints against Asia Television Limited (ATV) for falsely reporting the death of Mr Jiang Zemin, former President, on July 6, 2011. The BA is investigating the case in accordance with established procedures. Furthermore, there were public concerns over the role of Mr Wong Ching in ATV's management. The BA will also conduct an investigation into the matter.
The BA considered four complaint cases in respect of licensees' compliance with the relevant codes of practice on programme and advertising standards:
(a) A complaint against the television programme "Oscars Red Carpet Live" broadcast on the Pearl Channel of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) on February 28, 2011. The BA decided that TVB should be advised to observe more closely the relevant provision in the Generic Code of Practice on Television Advertising Standards (TV Advertising Code);
(b) Complaints against the television programme "The 83rd Annual Academy Awards (Live)" broadcast on the Pearl Channel of TVB on February 28, 2011. The BA decided that TVB should be advised to observe more closely the relevant provision in the TV Advertising Code;
(c) Complaints against the radio programme "On a Clear Day" broadcast on the CR1 Channel of Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Limited (CR) on January 11 and 25, and February 8 and 23, 2011. The BA decided that CR should be advised to observe more closely the relevant provision in the Radio Code of Practice on Programme Standards (Radio Programme Code); and
(d) A complaint against the radio programme "Evita" broadcast on April 12, 2011, on the CR2 Channel of CR. The BA decided that CR should be warned to observe more closely the relevant provisions in the Radio Programme Code.
Further details of the above cases are available in the Appendix.
The BA noted that in June 2011, the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing (CTEL) dealt with 131 cases (223 complaints) under its delegated authority, of which six cases (six complaints) were classified as minor breaches and 86 cases (165 complaints) were unsubstantiated. The remaining 39 cases (52 complaints) were held to be outside the ambit of the Broadcasting Authority Ordinance. The monthly complaint figures dealt with by the CTEL from June 2010 to June 2011 are shown in Figure 1. A chart showing the respective nature of the unsubstantiated complaints classified by the CTEL in June 2011 is at Figure 2. A chart showing the respective nature of complaints which were classified as minor breaches is at Figure 3.
Ends/Monday, August 1, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:02
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