The Chief Executive in Council has formally granted a domestic free television programme service licence to Fantastic TV for 12 years from today, subject to a mid-term review.
Fantastic TV will launch an integrated Cantonese channel within 12 months after the grant of the licence and an integrated English channel within two years. Both channels will provide round-the-clock services.
Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Gregory So said the entry of Fantastic TV into the free television market will foster the further development of the broadcasting and creative industries.
Viewers will benefit from a wider choice of programmes through the additional investment in programming and local content production, and increased competition, he added.
Fantastic TV has proposed to hire the fixed network operated by Cable TV to transmit its service. Viewers served by the communal aerial broadcast distribution system can receive its signals after a system upgrade.
