ENG-2012 — Page 364

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Communications, the Media and Information Technology

analogue radio service) and RTHK formally launched digital audio broadcasting (DAB) services. There will be a total of 18 new DAB channels.

Regulatory Approach

Provision of television programme services and the carriage networks in Hong Kong are regulated separately. 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. The provision of sound broadcasting services is regulated under the Telecommunications Ordinance and the Broadcasting (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance.

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

Public Service Broadcasting - Radio Television Hong Kong

RTHK is a government department tasked with providing high quality and professional public service broadcasting through radio, television and new media platforms. The RTHK Charter enshrines the editorial independence of RTHK, and sets out the public purposes and mission of RTHK, its relationship with the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Communications Authority and the Board of Advisors.

RTHK currently operates 12 radio channels, with three of them using FM, four using AM transmission and five DAB channels formally launched in September 2012. The station produces over 1,035 hours of radio programmes of different genres in Cantonese, English and Putonghua every week.

RTHK produced about 630 hours of television programmes for broadcasting on Hong Kong's two local free television stations and pay-TV platforms in 2012. RTHK officially kicked off the digital terrestrial television (DTT) transmission signal test at the Temple Hill transmission tower on 1 July 2012. After the signal tests have been completed, a test run of programmes will be rolled out and RTHK is now devising and formulating its long-term plan for the DTT service.

In addition to 35.7 hours of new school educational television programmes and pre-primary school programmes, an interactive learning platform, eTVonline, provides educational information to complement the Government's education policies. RTHK also provides local and overseas broadcasters with audio and video pool feeds of events of public interest, such as the annual National Day celebration and flag raising ceremony, the national leaders' official visits, the delivery of the Chief Executive's Policy Address and the ceremonial opening of the Legal Year.

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