ENG-2017 — Page 353

Broadcasting

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Media and Communications

Commercial Broadcasting

Hong Kong is a forerunner in the adoption of advanced broadcasting technologies. The broadcasting policy objectives are to widen programme choice and diversity through competition, to facilitate the introduction of innovative broadcasting services, and to enhance the city's position as a regional broadcasting hub. To achieve these objectives, Hong Kong adopts a facilitating and pro-competition approach to promote the use of innovative technologies and provides a regulatory environment that moves with the times for new services to flourish.

At the end of 2017, Hong Kong had some 800 satellite and pay-TV channels available in digital format, and was the world leader in deploying internet protocol TV technology, with more than one million subscribers. Fifteen licensed satellite TV broadcasters provided more than 180 channels for the Asia-Pacific region. Three domestic free-TV licensees operated a total of 11 free- to-air channels, comprising three analogue channels and eight digital channels in high- definition format.

As to radio, two sound broadcasting licensees provided a total of six analogue radio channels as at year end.

Regulatory Approach

Television programme services and their carriage networks are regulated separately. A 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.

The Broadcasting Ordinance regulates the four categories of TV programme services domestic-free, domestic-pay, non-domestic (mainly satellite TV services targeting the Asia- Pacific) and other licensable TV programme services (mainly TV services for hotel rooms) · according to their characteristics and pervasiveness rather than their transmission modes. Sound broadcasting services are regulated under the Telecommunications Ordinance and Broadcasting (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance.

Hong Kong's facilitative and pro-competition regulatory approach has resulted in a multitude of TV and radio channels with diversified programming.

Public Service Broadcasting

Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) is a government department that serves as the city's public service broadcaster. It provides editorially independent, professional and quality radio, TV and new media services. The RTHK Charter enshrines RTHK's editorial independence and sets out its public purposes, mission and relationship with the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the CA and the RTHK Board of Advisors.

RTHK operates seven radio channels, with three of them using FM transmission and four using AM. The station produces more than 1,100 hours of diversified radio programmes in Cantonese,

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