ATV, TVB fined for unequal network use

November 12, 2013

The Communications Authority has fined Asia Television Limited and Television Broadcasts Limited HK$200,000 each for unequally sharing transmission capacity, breaking their licence conditions.
 
ATV and TVB were assigned a total of three digital multiplexes to provide digital terrestrial television services. Each was assigned a single-frequency network multiplex for sole use, and they were required to equally share transmission capacity of one multiple-frequency network multiplex, for programmes' digital simulcast.  
 
Since early this year, the authority's records showed TVB persistently using more than half of the network's capacity for broadcasting Pearl and Jade channels in HD format, while ATV continued to broadcast its Home and World channels in SD format.
 
Investigation revealed the arrangement was part of a commercial agreement between the two - without the authority's prior consent.
 
There is no Government policy on allowing spectrum trading in Hong Kong, and the two companies implemented the agreement and adjusted their transmission capacities without  authorisation, effectively trading transmission capacity between themselves for commercial benefit.
 
ATV and TVB have jointly asked the authority to amend their fixed-carrier licence terms, to formalise their existing arrangement on unequal multiple-frequency network sharing. The authority is considering the application separately.