The Government announced that the Chief Executive in Council approved the termination of the domestic pay television program service (Pay TV) license of Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (Cable TV) on 1 June 2023.
According to the authorities, Cable TV wrote to the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development and the Chairman of the Communications Authority on September 30, 2022, respectively, to apply to the trade association to terminate its pay TV license.
The CA then reviewed the application of CATV in accordance with the established procedures, and considered that CATV had no outstanding obligations and responsibilities under the license, and was informed that the company had made withdrawal or switching arrangements for subscribers in connection with the termination of the license.
After considering the opinions of the Communications Bureau, the guild agreed that the surrender of the cable TV license is a purely commercial decision. Cable TV should assess its business prospects by itself, and the government should not impose unnecessary restrictions on leaving the site. Therefore, the relevant application was approved.
The Government announced this afternoon that the trade association approved the termination of the Hong Kong Cable TV Company Limited's domestic pay television program service license on June 1, 2023.
Bureau of Commerce and Economics: Cable TV has been losing money in recent years and the operating environment is difficult
In the press release, a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said that the cable TV has suffered losses in recent years and the operating environment is difficult. The return of the pay TV license is purely a commercial consideration, and the government respects the relevant decision.
The Commerce and Economic Bureau also pointed out that it understands that Cable TV's application this time will not affect other businesses of its parent company i-CABLE's group companies, including Wonder TV's free TV service and telecommunications (including broadband and fixed-line telephone, etc.) services.
Cable Broadband suddenly suspended in the afternoon
The Executive Council discussed the issue of TV station licenses today. The parent company of Cable TV and HOY TV, Cable Broadband, suddenly suspended their licenses this afternoon, and then announced that they would return the fee-paying licenses.
In other words, "Cable TV", which has been in operation for nearly 30 years, has since entered history, but its free TV license "Hong Kong Open TV" continues to operate.
Cable TV was launched on October 31, 1993. It broadcasts 134 TV channels, which was once the highest among all TV stations in Hong Kong. It also provides news, entertainment and sports programs, many of which are 24-hour channels.
On February 14, Cable TV announced that it would return the charging license.
(Photo by Yu Junliang)
Pay TV licenses originally scheduled to end in 2029
The current cable TV license began on June 1, 2017 and was originally scheduled to end on May 31, 2029.
The application for renewal is approved by the Chief Executive in conjunction with the Executive Council, and the license is valid for 12 years.
Checking the information, at that time, Cable TV had promised a total investment of 3.447 billion yuan between 2017 and 2023, including capital investment of 251 million yuan and program investment of 3.196 billion yuan.
Cable also pledged to provide subtitles for news, movies and pre-recorded entertainment, and to improve customer service and sales practices, including procedures for handling service terminations and following up on customer complaints.
In 2021, it was reported that the pay TV license will be abandoned
Until October 2021, it was reported that Cable Broadband was considering giving up the pay TV license, and planned to focus on the development of free TV business.
At that time, the group responded that there was no relevant plan, and the content of the report was purely speculation.
Some buildings in Tai Kok Tsui are unable to receive TV signals. Office of Communications: Cable TV network failure. The cable TV reporter was reprimanded as a "black note" the year before last. The Complaints Division ruled that the accusation is true and will take disciplinary action. Cable TV employees are also infected with the epidemic Cable TV requires employees to take two days of unpaid leave per month for half a year, including the news department
When did cable TV start?
Launched on October 31, 1993
When is the CATV domestic pay television program service license originally scheduled to expire?
End of May 2029
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/KMEYMJKESBAZBE4MRBAM4TGHIQ.jpg)
