XN000022-1973-08-10 — Page 2

1

Friday, August 10, 1973

LICENCES FOR WIRELESS TELEVISION STATIONS

The government is to grant two new licences to operate wireless

television stations in Hong Kong.

Rediffusion Television Limited will be offered a licence for a

-

Commercial Television

dual channel station broadcasting in Chinese and English

Limited a licence for a single channel station broadcasting in Chinese.

Both licences will run for a period of 15 years subject to renewal

on December 31, 1980.

The dual language station will provide viewers with an alternative,

fully commercial television service, providing entertainment, information and

education on two channels as does the present licensee.

The third licensee, the single channel service, will provide a further

choice of television programmes in Chinese, only part of which will contain

commercial advertising.

From Monday to Friday each week from 9.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. the

licensee will provide a series of home studies or minority interest broadcasts

which will not include any commercial advertising. The final form of these

programmes is subject to further discussion between the government and the

licensee.

Subject to good progress with the necessary building work and technical

problems, the new dual channel service is expected to come on air within the

next few months, and hopefully before the end of this year. The new single

channel service is expected to start transmissions about mid-1975.

/A government