ENG-2006 — Page 426

358 Communications, the Media and Information Technology

Broadcasting

The Government's broadcasting policy objectives are to widen programme choice and diversity through competition, to facilitate the introduction of new, innovative broadcasting services and to enhance Hong Kong's position as a regional broadcasting hub.

Hong Kong's regulatory regime is technology-neutral. The provision of television services and carriage networks are regulated separately so that a television programme service provider may hire any transmission network operators to transmit its service instead of investing in transmission infrastructure itself. This arrangement facilitates market entry and encourages competition.

Under the Broadcasting Ordinance, the four categories of television programme services domestic free, domestic pay, non-domestic (mainly satellite television services targeting the Asia-Pacific region) and other licensable television programme services (mainly television services for hotel rooms) - are regulated according to their characteristics and pervasiveness rather than their transmission mode.

As a result of the liberalised, light-handed and pro-competition regulatory approach, Hong Kong has a vibrant broadcasting industry and its people enjoy a multitude of television and radio channels with diversified programming four terrestrial free TV channels, some 240 pay TV channels, over 200 free satellite TV channels and 13 radio channels.

The Broadcasting Authority

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The Broadcasting Authority (BA) is the independent statutory regulator of the broadcasting sector, comprising nine non-official members from various sectors of the community and three public officers. It is the licensing authority of non-domestic and other licensable television licences, and is responsible for making recommendations to the Chief Executive in Council on applications for new sound broadcasting, domestic free television and domestic pay television licences, as well as on applications for renewal of these licences.

The BA's main function is to safeguard proper standards of television and sound broadcasting with regard to both programme and advertising content, as well as technical performance. It publishes codes of practice on programme, advertising and technical performance with which licensees are required to comply. The BA is also responsible for upholding a fair and competitive television market in Hong Kong through enforcing the competition provisions under the Broadcasting Ordinance.

In light of media and technological convergence, the BA constantly examines and updates its regulatory approach and codes of practice to ensure that public expectations are met and at the same time that the operators have sufficient flexibility to operate effectively and efficiently. It engages the public through its television and radio consultative scheme and focus groups discussion to collect audience feedback.