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PRESS, BROADCASTING AND CINEMA
may now watch some 366 hours of television a week-193 hours a week being transmitted by Rediffusion and 173 by HK-TVB. Of the total, 23 hours a week are taken up with the transmission of the Government's educational television service.
RTV operates, under an exclusive franchise which expires in April 1973, the wired television service in Hong Kong and provides a 405-line, two channel service, one in English and one in Chinese. The company's multi-studio centre at Television House, Broadcast Drive, Kowloon, is a modern production complex equipped with 19 studios.
HK-TVB, operating under an exclusive licence for its first five years, broadcasts two wireless channels, the Jade (Chinese) and the Pearl (English). The company employs the UHF, 625-line PAL colour system with its main transmitters on Temple Hill. There are now 11 auxiliary transmitters throughout the Colony giving complete coverage to both urban and, with the exception of minor isolated pockets, rural Hong Kong.
The Educational Television Division (ETV) of the Education Department began production in September 1971. The division, operating from the ETV centre in Broadcast Drive, produces 15-minute programmes for primary schools which are transmitted five days a week via RTV and HK-TVB.
SOUND BROADCASTING
Hong Kong is served by three broadcasting organisations all operating both English and Chinese sound channels. Two of the three organisations are commercial and the other is a government station.
Radio Hong Kong broadcasts separate Chinese and English pro- gramme services on AM and FM. It is financed from general revenue and carries no advertising. The aim of the government broadcasting service is to provide balanced programmes with the emphasis on information and public affairs. It also plays an important role in assisting the development and better mutual understanding of the problems and attitudes of the different communities.
During the year, the installation of equipment for Radio Hong Kong's new television unit was also completed and staff training and limited production got under way. RHKTV will be producing public affairs programmes and short films to support government publicity campaigns for broadcast by the Colony's commercial television companies.