Hong Kong to liberalise rules for cross-media ownership in first major broadcasting policy change in 17 years
Proposal by government would allow some media owners to acquire other broadcasting licences, in bid to encourage innovation and investment in the industry
Cross-media ownership rules in Hong Kong will finally be liberalised under proposed changes to broadcasting regulations widely viewed as outdated since they have remained unchanged for 17 years.
They had previously been banned from cross-media holdings to avoid editorial uniformity and a potential industry monopoly, but a rapidly changing media landscape and technological advances have prompted a total rethink.
Why Hong Kong’s broadcasting rules are out of date and touch
However, the ban on awarding new broadcasting licences will remain in place for those already running free TV, pay TV or radio businesses.
And individuals who have yet to gain permanent residency through seven consecutive years of living in Hong Kong will not be given new licences either, making such businesses off-limits to overseas or mainland Chinese owners.
Besides relaxing cross-media ownership rules, the government also proposed to: refine restrictions on foreign control by allowing non-Hong Kong residents to own more shares in free TV companies without securing the government’s approval; allow free TV and sound broadcasting licensees to be subsidiary, rather than independent companies; and keep the status quo in granting approval for broadcasting licences.
