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The following is issued on behalf of the Broadcasting Authority:
At its meeting today (June 17), the Broadcasting Authority (BA) accepted the recommendations of the Codes of Practice Committee, and introduced further relaxations to the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programme Standards by allowing television broadcasters to carry programme promotional material, which is unrelated to the programme under broadcast, within programmes. Such in-programme promotional material is only allowed to be presented in the form of superimposed text, and subject to certain restrictions to safeguard viewers' interest. The restrictions on the broadcast of in-programme promotional material, however, are not applicable to channels and programmes which are acquired for direct retransmission, as the presentation is outside the control of the broadcasters.
The relaxation aims to provide a more business friendly environment for the broadcasting industry by allowing them more flexibility in promoting their programmes. The new provisions and the consequential amendments to the code will take effect in July 2006 upon gazettal.
The BA also considered one complaint case concerning one complaint substantiated. The case was about the promotional materials broadcast on Mei Ah Asian Drama Channel of now Broadband TV on February 22, 2006 from 10 pm to 11.30 pm. The BA considered that the teloped message shown in the middle of the drama "H2" on Mei Ah Drama Channel of now Broadband TV was non-programme material which should only be placed at the beginning or end of a programme or in a natural break, but not within a programme. PCCW was advised to observe more closely the relevant Code of Practice governing broadcast of non-programme material during advertising breaks.
The BA also noted that from April 19 to May 2006, the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing dealt with 123 cases (183 complaints) under her delegated authority, of which seven cases (eight complaints) were classified as minor breaches, and 80 cases (117 complaints) as unsubstantiated, under section 11 of the Broadcasting Authority Ordinance (BAO); and 36 cases (58 complaints) were outside section 11 of the BAO. Please refer to the BA website: www.hkba.hk for details of the complaints.
Ends/Saturday, June 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 13:00
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