Broadcasting in Hong Kong started in 1928 with the establishment of Radio Hong Kong. Hong Kong has since developed into a broadcasting hub of the Asia-Pacific region with various types of broadcasting services targeting local audience and viewers in the Asia Pacific Region, Europe and Africa. The major milestones in the broadcasting history of Hong Kong are set out below.
| 1928 |
The first radio station, Radio Hong Kong
(now known as Radio Television Hong Kong) was founded.
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| 1948 |
The first licence to operate a wired sound
broadcasting service was granted to Rediffusion (Hong
Kong) Limited (Rediffusion) (now known as Asia Television
Limited). |
| 1957 |
The first licence to operate a wired subscription
television service was granted to Rediffusion. It began
broadcasting in 1958. |
| 1959 |
The first commercial wireless sound broadcasting
licence was granted to Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting
Company Limited (CRHK). |
| 1965 |
The first licence to operate a wireless
television broadcasting service was granted to Television
Broadcasts Limited (TVB). The service commenced in 1967.
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| 1972 |
Colour television transmission was introduced
for the first time in Hong Kong by TVB. |
| 1973 |
The second licence to operate a wireless
television broadcasting service was granted to Rediffusion,
ending its 15-year cable service. |
| 1975 |
The third licence to operate a wireless
television broadcasting service was granted to Commercial
Television Limited. The service commenced in 1975 and
ceased operation in 1978. |
| 1987 |
The Authority was formed following the
enactment of the Broadcasting Authority Ordinance (Cap.
391). |
| 1990 |
The first satellite television uplink and
downlink licence was granted to Hutchvision Hong Kong
Limited (now known as Starvision Hong Kong Limited (Starvision))
to broadcast its five channels of STAR TV satellite TV
service to 53 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. |
| 1991 |
The second sound broadcasting licence was granted to
Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited (Metro). Multi-language
programming using the Near Instantaneous Companded Audio
Multiplex (NICAM) system was introduced in Hong Kong. |
| 1993 |
The initial subscription television broadcasting
licence was granted to Wharf Cable Limited (now known
as Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (HKCTV)). |
| 1995 |
RTHK voluntarily undertook to comply with
the programme codes issued by the Authority by signing
a Memorandum of Understanding with the Authority and the
then Recreation and Culture Branch. |
| 1998 |
The first programme service licence was
granted to Hong Kong Telecom VOD Limited (now known as
PCCW Media Limited (PCCW Media)) to launch the world's
first commercial-scale video-on-demand programme service.
Public consultation was conducted on the 1998 Review
of Television Policy with a view to opening up the TV
market for competition and taking Hong Kong into the
age of convergence. |
| 1999 |
STAR TV commenced digital broadcasting
on its satellite TV platform. |
| 2000 |
The Television Ordinance (Cap. 52) was repealed and
replaced by the technology-neutral Broadcasting Ordinance
(Cap. 562) following the 1998 Review of Television Policy.
Pay TV market was opened up with four new pay TV licences
granted to Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited (now
known as TVB Pay Vision Limited (TVB Pay Vision)), Hong
Kong Network TV Limited (Network TV), Pacific Digital
Media (HK) Corporation Limited (subsequently renamed as
TV Plus (Hong Kong) Corp. Limited (TV Plus)) and Yes Television
(Hong Kong) Limited (Yes TV). Network TV surrendered its
licence in 2001 before launching its service. |
| 2002 |
HKCTV started to introduce digital broadcasting
on its Microwave Multipoint Distribution System (MMDS)
and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) networks.
Yes TV and TV Plus commenced service. |
| 2003 |
PCCW Media was granted a domestic pay television
programme service licence to launch a multi-channel pay
TV service replacing its video-on-demand service. |
| 2004 |
TVB Pay Vision commenced its domestic pay
television programme service. Yes TV and TV Plus surrendered
their licences.
The implementation framework for digital terrestrial
television was promulgated by the Government, setting
the date for introduction of digital terrestrial television
by 2007. |
| 2005 |
HKCTV completed digitalisation of its network.
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| 2006 |
The Government conducted a public consultation
on the proposed establishment of a unified regulator for
the entire communications sector, namely Communications
Authority, by merging the Authority and the Telecommunications
Authority. |
| 2007 |
The Committee on Review of Public Service
Broadcasting submitted to the Government a review report
on future policy and arrangements for public service broadcasting
in Hong Kong. ATV and TVB planned to commence digital
terrestrial television broadcasting in December 2007.
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