Hong Kong renews TV station licences with push for ‘telling good stories’

Hong Kong authorities have renewed the free-to-air licences of the city’s television broadcasters with conditions to boost local production of English-language national education shows and programmes aimed at “telling good stories” of the city.

The Executive Council, the city’s top decision-making body, approved the renewal on Tuesday, extending 12-year licences to all three broadcasters. These licences will run until 2039 for HK Television Entertainment and TVB, and until 2040 for i-Cable Hoy.

A government spokesman said the approvals, alongside various relaxation measures and enhancement requirements, aim to “foster the sustainable development of the local broadcasting industry and provide more diversified and quality television programmes”.

“The Chief Executive in Council’s decision to renew the free television licences, along with the timely regulatory updates, has demonstrated the government’s commitment to cultivating a more favourable business environment,” a Commerce and Economic Development Bureau spokesman said.

The spokesman added that such an environment would enable the broadcasting industry to thrive, capitalise on the strength of the city’s brand and reinforce Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s world city.

The council accepted the Communications Authority’s recommendations, including investment proposals of HK$2.3 billion (US$293.07 million) for HKTVE, HK$6.2 billion for TVB and HK$950 million for i-Cable Hoy for the first six years of the renewed licences.

The council also supported relaxation measures including allowing more flexibility in airing non-designated language programmes for both integrated Chinese and English channels and reducing airtime for designated programmes.

Under the updated licence conditions, broadcasters must “increase local production and broadcast of English programmes on telling good stories of Hong Kong and national education-related programmes”.

Other requirements include enhancing subtitling requirements and adding a cap on simulcast content. The authority has also implemented measures to streamline administrative requirements and complaint handling procedures to reduce compliance costs.

City leader John Lee Ka-chiu said in his policy address last month that the government would remove barriers and ease restrictions for the broadcasting industry, ensuring the regulatory regime keeps pace with the times.

Following a review and public consultation by the authority, an amended version of the Generic Codes of Practice for Television will be proposed before the end of the year, with implementation targeted for mid-2027.