3.1 Television

The regulatory regime for television programme services in Hong Kong provided under the BO is technology-neutral⁷. Licensees are free to choose their transmission arrangements for the delivery of television services. The broadcasters can build their own transmission networks to deliver their services and, in such cases, they need to apply for a carrier licence from the Telecommunications Authority to cover the transmission network. Alternatively, they can engage any of the existing carrier licensees to provide the transmission service. The licensees can also provide their television programme services via multiple transmission platforms so as to maximise the coverage.

3.1.1 Terrestrial transmission

ATV and TVB provided their television programme services in analogue PAL-I format via the UHF radio frequency band. They are required to provide service throughout Hong Kong under the BO and to construct new transposers as directed by the Authority to improve reception in areas with reception problems⁸. Since 1995, the Authority has directed ATV and TVB to build a total of 17 TV transposers to serve pocket areas not covered by the six main transmission stations⁹ and supplementary transposers. As of August 2007, there were a total of 39¹⁰ station-operated television transmitting stations and 11 community self-help transposers¹¹ serving the territory.

Figure 8 :

List of Transposers Constructed by ATV and TVB as Directed by the Authority since 1995

Transposer Site	Direction by the Authority	Completion Date
Pokfulam Village	1995	1996
Tui Min Hoi, Sai Kung	1996	1996
Sham Tseng	1996	1996
Tsing Yi	1997	1997
Ying Pun	1997	2003
Yuen Long Town Centre	1998	2003
Tseung Kwan O Village	1998	2001
Hang Hau Village	1999	2002
Tuen Mun Village	1999	2002
Tung Chung Village	2000	2003
Fuk Hang Tsuen and Fu Tei of Tuen Mun	2000	2001
Central & Western Districts	2001	2002
Kau Wah Keng	2001	2003
Tai Pak Tin area of Kwai Chung	2002	2004
Cheung Chau	2002	2004
Cha Kwo Ling	2004	2005
Ap Lei Chau & Aberdeen	2004	2007

3.1.2 Hybrid Fibre Coaxial Cable (HFC) and Microwave Multipoint Distribution System (MMDS)

HKCTV delivered its domestic pay television programme service mainly by hybrid fibre coaxial cable (HFC) network, supplemented by microwave multipoint distribution system (MMDS) and satellite transmission. As at August 2007, HKCTV's HFC and MMDS network covered around 2.2 million households, i.e. 96% of the total households in Hong Kong.

3.1.3 Satellite Transmission

Since the launch of service in February 2004, TVB Pay Vision has been employing satellite to transmit a pay television service to some of its subscribers. In September 2004, HKCTV added satellite transmission mode to deliver its service.

Up to August 2007, there were 14 non-domestic television programme service licensees. All of them employed satellites to transmit their television services to the region. The satellites used were AsiaSat 3S, AsiaSat 4, Apstar IIR, Apstar V, PanAmSat 8, PanAmSat 10, Intelsat 701 and Measat 3.

Viewers in multi-storey buildings can receive satellite television channels directly through SMATV systems. In August 2007, the SMATV systems covered 756 935 households in Hong Kong, representing 33.7% of the total households.

3.1.4 Broadband Network

PCCW Media's "now Broadband TV" service was delivered over the asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) broadband network operated by PCCW-HKT Telephone Limited (PCCW-HKT) through PCCW-HKT's telephony network, which covered about 97% of the total households in Hong Kong.

In August 2005, TVB Pay Vision also started to employ the broadband network via Hutchison Global Communications Limited (HGC) to deliver its domestic pay TV service. On 10 May 2006, TVB Pay Vision launched its service on the transmission platform of PCCW Media, which could be accessed via the same set-top box of PCCW Media with a separate electronic programming guide which is distinguishable from that of PCCW Media's "now Broadband TV" service.

Figure 9 :

Coverage of Different Television Transmission Modes

ZOOM

Figure 10 :

Transmission Modes Employed by the Television Licensees

Licensee	Transmission Mode
Domestic Free Television ATV and TVB	Terrestrial UHF
Domestic Pay Television HKCTV PCCW Media TVB Pay Vision	HFC, MMDS and satellite Broadband network Satellite and broadband network
Non-domestic Television All the 14 licensees	Satellite

7		An exception is that a service consists only of a service provided on the Internet is exempted from the regulatory regime under the BO.
8		According to the guideline issued by the Authority, the licensees will normally be exempted from serving those areas where the populations affected by poor television reception are below 2 000 persons within an area of a radius of three kilometres.
9		Temple Hill, Golden Hill, Castle Peak, Kowloon Peak, Cloudy Hill and Lamma Island
10		The transposer site for Ap Lei Chau & Aberdeen completed in October 2007 is not included.
11		Self-help transposers refer to the TV transposers built by parties other than the domestic free television programme service licensees (for example, by the estate developers)