Nine out of 10 Hongkongers urge Exco to switch on more free TV

Hongkongers want the government to ignore TVB's request for a judicial review aimed at halting new free-to-air television licences and give the go-ahead for the first new TV station as soon as possible, according to a survey.

The Democratic Party interviewed 784 Hongkongers by phone last week, and over 60 per cent called for the first new licence to be issued before July.

The survey showed that a further 17 per cent want to see a new licence issued but in the second half of the year, and another 12 per cent are happy to wait until next year. That means virtually nine out of 10 Hongkongers are in favour of the new stations.

Only 11 per cent said the plan should be scrapped.

The result comes more than three years after three newcomers filed their bids for new licences, and after more than three decades in which ATV and TVB have been the city's only free-to-air terrestrial broadcasters, although paid-for cable and satellite TV is now widespread.

While the Broadcasting Authority is believed to have approved all three applications in 2011 and the Communications Authority also recommended granting new licences last year, the Executive Council has failed to give the go-ahead.

Last week's survey also shows 59 per cent of respondents believe that the government is being "too slow" in handling the applications, another 14 per cent said it is "slow", and less than 10 per cent approve the pace.

In an apparent effort to avoid increased competition in the terrestrial television market, TVB applied at the start of the year for a judicial review of the Communications Authority's decision in favour of the new, rival free-to-air television licences.

The Democratic Party's deputy leader, Sin Chung-kai, said the survey suggested that the administration should ignore the broadcaster's application.

"TVB's judicial review [request] is just a delaying tactic, I don't think there is the need to postpone the government's plan," Sin said.

"ATV has done this before, TVB is doing it now, and ATV could do it again if TVB fails, this could go on forever."

Sin was referring to ATV's failed legal attempt last March to get permission to lodge another judicial challenge.

In TVB's court filings earlier this month, the station argues that the Communications Authority's recommendation in July is "unlawful" and its decision was based on factual and legal errors.

Source: South China Morning Post