Free TV licences of HKTVE, TVB and i-CABLE HOY renewed
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The CE in Council has accepted the recommendations of the Communications Authority (CA), which comprehensively considered licensees' performance and proposals, public views as well as the latest developments in the broadcasting industry. The CE in Council agreed to renew the free TV licences of the three licensees for another 12 years, accepted the investment proposals for the first six years of the renewed licences, and supported the introduction of various relaxation measures (including allowing more flexibility for the licensees to broadcast non-designated language programmes for both integrated Chinese and English channels, and reducing the broadcast hours for positive programmes), as well as enhancement requirements (including increasing local production and broadcast of English programmes on telling good stories of Hong Kong and national education-related programmes, enhancing subtitling requirements, and adding a cap on simulcast content). The relevant regulatory updates, as set out in the Annex, will be implemented by way of licence conditions and/or directions by the CA for the renewed licences. Meanwhile, the CA has implemented a series of measures for simplifying administrative requirements and streamlining the complaint handling procedures to reduce the compliance costs of the licensees.
A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said, "Hong Kong is an international metropolis as well as a broadcasting hub in the Asia-Pacific region. In line with the directions of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) has set out that the Government will strive to strengthen the global reach of the mainstream media. The CE in Council's decision of renewing the free TV licences, along with the timely regulatory updates, has demonstrated the Government's commitment to cultivating a more favourable business environment for our broadcasting industry to thrive in, capitalise on the strength of the 'Hong Kong brand', and reinforce Hong Kong's position as Asia's world city. On the whole, the CA's recommendations on the relaxation measures and enhancement requirements are well-balanced between addressing changes brought by the evolving broadcasting landscape and meeting public expectations."
The Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address announced that the Government will remove barriers and ease restrictions for the broadcasting industry and ensure that the regulatory regime can keep pace with the times. With licensees' suggestions and public support reflected in the opinion surveys to suitably relax advertising controls, the CA has commenced a review of the Generic Codes of Practice for Television (CoPs), and will soon conduct a public consultation on the proposed amendments to the CoPs before the end of this year. The target is to implement the amended CoPs in mid-2027. On the premise of safeguarding public interest, the direction of the review will be adopting a principle-based regulatory model, with the necessary removal of outdated and prescriptive requirements.
Renewal of free TV licences is governed by section 11 of the Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap. 562). The CA shall, not later than 12 months before the expiry of the period of validity of the licence, submit recommendations to the CE in Council in relation to the renewal of the licence, and where appropriate, the conditions subject to which the licence may be renewed. The validity periods of the renewed licences of HKTVE, TVB and i-CABLE HOY are from April 1, 2027, to March 31, 2039; December 1, 2027, to November 30, 2039; and May 31, 2028, to May 30, 2040, respectively. The three licensees have respectively committed to investing $2,298 million for the six-year period from 2027 to 2033 (HKTVE), $6,230 million for the six-year period from 2028 to 2033 (TVB), and $950 million for the six-year period from 2028 to 2034 (i-CABLE HOY).
Ends/Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:30
Issued at HKT 16:30
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