ENG-1990 — Page 360

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

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Complaints Committee

Complaints relating to the television and sound broadcasting industries are considered by the Complaints Committee of the authority. During the year, 527 complaints were received, mostly through a 24-hour complaints hotline. They were primarily concerned with the quality and standard of television programmes. During the year, the authority, acting on the recommendations of the committee, issued 15 warnings to the two television stations and imposed two fines.

Television

Television viewing continued to be Hong Kong's most popular leisure activity in 1990, with more than 98 per cent of households owning one television set or more. Sixty-two per cent of them also owned a video cassette recorder. Each of the two franchised stations, Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) and Asia Television Limited (ATV), provides one Chinese and one English-language service and transmitted an average of 580 hours of programming per week, similar to 1989.

Commercial Broadcasters

In 1990, there was intense competition between the two television stations, both trying to strengthen audience shares with new programme schedules from time to time. As a result, programming became more diverse and more choices were available to viewers.

Sports programmes featured prominently during the year with the broadcast of World Cup 1990 in June and July and the Asian Games in September and October. Satellite feeds were used to provide live coverage of most sporting events and in some cases commercial breaks were given up during the telecast to ensure continuity.

On the Chinese services, serialised drama produced by the stations themselves continued to be the main attraction. The stories ranged from romances to historical epics and to tales of personal struggle and ultimate success. Feature films and telemovies remained popular while late-night viewing was dominated by chat shows and magazine programmes with an occasional cartoon series not suitable for children.

There was an increase in arts and documentary programmes on the English services. Information and current affairs programmes with strong local interest continued to attract viewers. During the year, both stations showed news programmes received from the United States via satellite on their English services.

In addition to the regular line-up, beauty pageants, variety spectaculars, talent con- tests, music specials and live coverage of international sporting events provided periodic highlights.

With effect from December, tobacco advertising was totally banned on television and radio.

In 1982, Television Viewing Groups were set up in Hong Kong's 19 districts to provide a continuous flow of public opinion on programming and advertising. They had a total membership of 570. Three regional panels, one each for Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories and a panel for English-speaking viewers chaired by members of the Broadcasting Authority and consisting of representatives from the Television Viewing Groups keep the authority in close contact with the groups.

To supplement the opinions received through other channels, a Television Broadcasting Survey was conducted in July and August on various issues relating to television and radio

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