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The Government announced today (November 3) that the Chief Executive (CE) in Council approved the termination of the sound broadcasting licence of Phoenix U Radio Limited with effect from November 7 (Saturday).
Upon the CE in Council's approval, the sound broadcasting licence of Phoenix U Radio will be amended to end on November 6.
A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said, "Phoenix U Radio wrote to the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development on September 17 to seek the CE in Council's approval to surrender its sound broadcasting licence due to difficulties in operations.
"According to the application of Phoenix U Radio, the company found no prospect of making its business model commercially viable."
The spokesman added, "We have sought the views of the Communications Authority (CA) on the obligations and liabilities accrued by Phoenix U Radio under its licence. The CA, noting that Phoenix U Radio has launched two programme channels but failed to launch its third programme channel in accordance with its committed milestone, recommended the calling of a bonded sum of $1 million under a performance bond the company submitted to the Government to secure the launch of its third programme channel. Apart from that, the CA considered that there are no outstanding obligations and liabilities accrued under Phoenix U Radio's licence. The CE in Council therefore approved the termination of the licence of Phoenix U Radio with effect from November 7. Meanwhile, the Government will take follow-up action in relation to the performance bonds submitted by Phoenix U Radio to the Government."
Upon the cessation of Phoenix U Radio's service late in the night of November 6, re-configuration and maintenance works of the digital audio broadcasting (DAB) multiplex network has to be carried out from 2am to 6am on November 7 and the DAB service will be affected during that period. Individual operators will make suitable announcements nearer the time. It is expected that the DAB service will return to normal before 6am on November 7.
Ends/Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:21
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