The Communications Authority will assign free TV spectrum to HK Television Entertainment Company (HKTVE) to provide domestic free television services from April 2 next year.
The allocation will be made after Asia Television (ATV) has handed back its free TV spectrum to the authority on April 1 next year.
The authority said it is likely that in around eight months' time the free TV market will be left with only one spectrum-based free TV licensee with high coverage and penetration.
As the authority's statutory duty is to promote competition, it is inclined to approve HKTVE's application to use spectrum to transmit its licensed free TV services.
The authority also rejected Television Broadcasts' (TVB) application for more spectrum to enhance its licensed free TV services.
As spectrum supply is finite and competing demand is likely, the authority considered that free TV licensees which do not have any spectrum should have priority.
The authority also considered that TVB's existing assignment commensurates with its licensed service needs for providing five HD programme channels.
The authority also extended the termination date of a temporary bandwidth assignment to TVB from November 30 to April 1 next year, and TVB will terminate the simulcast arrangement of Jade and HD Jade after April 1.
