ENG-1976 — Page 230

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Television

THE MEDIA

Hong Kong has three enfranchised commercial wireless television stations- Television Broadcasts, Rediffusion Television, and Commercial Television. They are usually referred to as TVB, RTV and CTV. The first two operate both Chinese and English language channels, while CTV operates a single Chinese channel.

All three stations maintain well equipped studio and office complexes, using the latest production and transmission facilities and techniques. The UHF, 625-line PAL colour system is standard and virtually all transmissions are in colour.

Between them the stations broadcast about 60 hours of programmes each day, reaching an estimated three million viewers. It is also estimated that 90 per cent of all homes in Hong Kong have television sets, of which 39 per cent are colour.

The most popular programmes are the locally-produced drama and variety series. The dramas range from costumed period plays with large casts based on historical events to fast-moving contemporary criminal thriller series. Variety productions include hour-long entertainment spectaculars, often set in outside locations, and a range of studio productions. Imported programmes from many parts of the world are shown either in the original language or dubbed into Cantonese.

An important development during the year was the introduction of satellite relay news transmissions by TVB and RTV to improve their already comprehensive news programmes. The Olympic Games were transmitted live from Montreal by satellite relay. Similarly, the 1976 Miss Universe Pageant, which was held in Hong Kong and co-sponsored by TVB, was transmitted to an estimated audience of 500 million people by satellite.

The television stations are licensed to operate under the provisions of the Television Ordinance, which is administered by the Television Authority. The Com- missioner for Television and Films is responsible for the regulation of the stations' licences and the issue and enforcement of the programme, advertising and technical standards required of the licencees. He is advised in these responsibilities by the Television Advisory Board.

Much use is made of television in the spheres of education and public affairs programming. Under the Television Ordinance, the stations are required to provide transmission facilities for the schools programmes of the Educational Television Service (ETV), which until this year were produced by the educational television division of the Education Department. During the year the production facilities of the division were merged with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), the government radio station which also produces a wide variety of public affairs television pro- grammes. An important development was the extension of ETV which enabled the production of programmes in colour for secondary schools in addition to those produced for primary schools. It is estimated that some 500,000 children now regularly receive education by television as part of their normal schooling.

Further educational programming is provided by CTV, which under the terms of its licence broadcasts a two-hour period of special instructional programmes each weekday evening. Commercial advertising is excluded from that period. Subjects covered have included automobile mechanics, book-keeping, interior design, and