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Communications, the Media and Information Technology | 359

introduction of new, innovative broadcasting services and to enhance Hong Kong's position as a regional broadcasting hub.

In order to achieve these objectives, Hong Kong has adopted a facilitating and pro-competition approach to adopting various innovative broadcasting technologies, and provides a liberalised and

liberalised and light-handed regulatory environment for new broadcasting services to flourish. This allows Hong Kong to enter a new era of broadcasting, with broadened programming choice and innovative services available to the viewing and listening public. Hong Kong now has some 700 satellite and pay television channels available in digital format, and is the world leader in deploying Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) technology, with some one million subscribers. There are also 19 licensed satellite television broadcasters providing about 190 channels for the Asia-Pacific region. The two terrestrial television broadcasters officially launched digital broadcasting in December 2007. By the end of 2009, the number of free-to-air television channels increased substantially (4 analogue and 11 digital free TV channels). Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), a government department, produces programmes of public interest for broadcast on free TV channels. There are three radio stations, including RTHK, broadcasting on 13 channels in Hong Kong. In November 2008, the Government granted a sound broadcasting licence to Wave Media Limited to operate a new AM Chinese language radio station. Wave Media Limited is required to start broadcasting within two years.

Regulatory Approach

Hong Kong's television broadcasting regulatory regime is technology-neutral. Provision of television services and carriage networks is 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.

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As a result of the liberalised, light-handed and pro-competition regulatory approach, Hong Kong has a vibrant broadcasting industry and enjoys a multitude of television and radio channels with diversified programming.

The Broadcasting Authority

The Broadcasting Authority (BA) is an independent statutory regulator of the broadcasting sector, comprising nine non-official members from various sectors of the community and three public officers. The BA is the licensing authority for 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.