ENG-2007 — Page 417

Communications, the Media and Information Technology | 353

world leader in deploying the Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) technology with some 1 million subscribers, the highest IPTV penetration all over the world. The number of free-to-air television channels increased by almost threefold immediately after the start of digitisation by end 2007.

Regulatory approach

Hong Kong's television broadcasting 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 operator 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 analogue and 13 digital terrestrial free TV channels, some 270 pay TV channels, over 300 free satellite TV channels and 13 radio channels.

The Broadcasting Authority

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 domestic free television, domestic pay television and sound broadcasting 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 standards 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 540-member television and radio consultative scheme as well as focus groups discussions to collect audience feedback.