Broadcasting in Hong Kong started in 1928 with the establishment of the 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 four continents, viz. Asia, Australasia, 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. |
1948 |
The first licence to operate a wired sound broadcasting service
was granted to Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Limited (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 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 5 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 programmes using the NICAM system were 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 4 new pay TV licences granted to Galaxy Satellite
Broadcasting Limited (Galaxy), Hong Kong Network TV Limited
(Network TV), 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 MMDS
and 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 |
Galaxy 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 in 2007. |