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The following is issued on behalf of the Broadcasting Authority:
At its meeting today (July 17), the Broadcasting Authority (BA) approved the application from Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited (Galaxy) to defer the deadline of its three milestones falling due on August 23, 2003 by six months to February 23, 2004. The relevant milestones require Galaxy to provide not fewer than 24 television programme service channels to not fewer than 150,000 premises and to have incurred not less than HK$122 million capital expenditure by the deadline.
Having examined Galaxy's application, the BA approved the deferral having regard to the impact that the delay in the TVB divestment had on Galaxy's timetable for service launch. The BA is satisfied that, on the basis of the justifications submitted by Galaxy, Galaxy will make its best endeavours to meet the deferred deadlines.
The BA also approved the proposed change in shareholding structure of Sun Television Cybernetworks Enterprise Limited (Sun TV), a non-domestic television programme service licensee, necessitated by the sale of 70 per cent of Sun TV to Strategic Media International Limited. The BA is satisfied that the change will not affect the licensee's compliance with the relevant regulatory requirements under the Broadcasting Ordinance.
At the same meeting, the BA also took note of the over 12,000 public comments, both critical of and supportive of the BA's decision on the complaints about the radio programme "Tea Cup In The Storm" broadcast on April 24 and 25, 2003. The BA reiterates that it fully respects freedom of speech. The BA has always carried out its duties and responsibilities charged by law in accordance with the principles of fairness and impartiality. Such duties and responsibilities include ensuring that television and radio stations will fully comply with the standards set out in the codes of practice. In particular, the BA took note of the valuable suggestions put forward in the comments received from the public and would consider taking steps to improve the transparency of its operation, and in the course of so doing, conducting a consultation exercise with licensees.
The BA will review its modes of operation to better reflect the community's expectation of relevant standards. For example, it will consider reviewing the membership and mode of operation of the Television and Radio Consultative Scheme which now comprises more than 500 members from 18 Districts to gauge the community's views on television and radio broadcast; conducting more regular benchmark surveys on viewers' tastes; and expanding the co-opt membership of the Complaints Committee to ensure an even wider cross-section of the community.
The BA also made the following decisions on public complaints at the meeting:
The programme "Racing Express" broadcast on ATV Home on April 30, 2003 at 10:55 pm - 11:00 pm featured a game segment "Hong Kong Racing for Fun". The segment did not inform viewers of the closing date or the winners of the game. ATV was given an advice to observe more closely the relevant Generic Code of Practice on game contests.
The programme "Eggth DJs" broadcast on CR2 on April 13, 2003 at 10:00 am - 12:00 noon contained explicit sexual references which might be unsuitable for broadcast on a radio service targeting young listeners. CR was given a strong advice to observe more closely the relevant Radio Code of Practice on indecency.
The programme "Chez-moi" broadcast on RTHK Radio 1 on May 10, 2003 at 11:15 pm - 2:00 am featured a song containing an offensive expression unacceptable for broadcast on radio. RTHK was given an advice to observe more closely the relevant Radio Code of Practice on the use of language.
Details of complaints dealt with in June classified as minor breaches; unsubstantiated and outside BA's remit are listed in the Annex (pdf format).
End/Thursday, July 17, 2003
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