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Media and Communications

between service providers and their customers. During the year, 58 eligible applications were handled, of which 95 per cent were settled.

Broadcasting

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.

At the end of 2018, Hong Kong had over 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. Fourteen licensed satellite TV broadcasters provided more than 200 channels for the Asia-Pacific region. Three domestic free-TV licensees operated 12 free-to-air channels, comprising three analogue channels and nine digital channels in high-definition format.

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

Regulatory Approach

Television programme services and their carriage networks are regulated separately. A TV programme service provider may choose to 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. 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.

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