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The following is issued on behalf of the Broadcasting Authority:
At its meeting in February 2010, the Broadcasting Authority (BA) approved the application of APT Satellite TV Development Limited (APT) (previously known as APT Satellite Glory Limited) to surrender its existing deemed non-domestic television programme service licence in return for the grant of a new non-domestic television programme service licence, under the transitional arrangement provided in Section 9 of Schedule 8 to the Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap.562). The new licence is valid for 12 years from February 27, 2010 to February 26, 2022 (both dates inclusive). There is no change to the operation of APT and its service comprising 38 channels targeting viewers in the Asia-Pacific region.
The BA also accepted the application of i-Cable Satellite Television Limited (i-Cable) to surrender its non-domestic television programme service licence with effect from February 27, 2010. The BA noted that the surrender of licence was purely a commercial decision by i-Cable.
In addition, the BA considered four cases in respect of licensees’ compliance with the codes of practices on programme and advertising standards:
(i) Two public complaints against the television advertisement for"Whisper - Roller Coaster" (「护舒宝—过山车篇」广告) broadcast on the Home Channel of Asia Television Limited (ATV) and the Jade Channel of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) on August 2, 2009. The BA strongly advised ATV and TVB to observe closely the relevant provisions in the Generic Code of Practice on Television Advertising Standards (TV Advertising Code);
(ii) Two public complaints against the news programmes broadcast on the Cable News Channel of Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (HKCTV) on November 16 and 17, 2009. The BA decided that HKCTV should be warned to observe closely the relevant provision in the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programme Standards (TV Programme Code); and
(iii) A public complaint against the television programmes "News Headlines" (新闻提要) and "News Roundup" (晚间新闻) broadcast on TVB's Jade Channel on December 29, 2009, at 9.45pm and 11pm respectively. The BA decided that TVB should be warned to observe closely the relevant provision in the TV Programme Code.
(iv) A public complaint against the television advertisement for "PCCW 1000M+ Fibre Optic Broadband" (「PCCW 1000M+ 光纤宽频」广告) broadcast on ATV's Home and World Channels, TVB's Jade and Pearl Channels, HKCTV's Cable Finance Info and Cable News Channels between November 22, 2007, and December 6, 2007; and on now Business News Channel and now Sports 1, 2 and 3 Channels of PCCW Media Limited (now TV) between November 22, 2007, and November 30, 2007. The BA advised ATV, TVB, HKCTV and now TV to observe closely the relevant provisions in the TV Advertising Code.
Further details of the above cases are available in the Appendix.
The BA noted that in January 2010, the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing (CTEL) dealt with 111 cases (388 complaints) under her delegated authority, of which five cases (six complaints) were classified as minor breaches and 70 cases (127 complaints) were unsubstantiated. The remaining 36 cases (255 complaints) were held to be outside the ambit of the Broadcasting Authority Ordinance. The monthly complaints figures dealt with by CTEL from January 2009 to January 2010 are shown in Figure 1. A chart showing the respective natures of the unsubstantiated complaints in January 2010 is at Figure 2. Please visit the BA website (www.hkba.hk) for further information on the complaints.
Ends/Monday, March 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:00
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