1928

The first radio station, Radio Hong Kong (now known as Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK)) was founded.

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.

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.

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 (TA).

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.

Asia Television Limited (ATV) and TVB commenced digital terrestrial television broadcasting in December 2007. Both licensees introduced new digital channels in both standard definition and high definition formats in addition to simulcasting their existing analogue channels in digital broadcasting.

2008

ATV and TVB broadcast the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on the analogue and the digital terrestrial television broadcasting platform, including in the high definition format.

Wave Media Limited was granted a sound broadcasting licence to establish and maintain a 24-hour Cantonese language AM radio channel.