The two free-to-air television stations should increase their coverage of the arts in view of the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District, the Arts Development Council says.
It says Television Broadcasts (TVB) and Asia Television (ATV) should increase by half the time they devote to arts programmes and allocate about two minutes for arts news during their evening newscasts.
The calls are made in a submission to the Broadcasting Authority, which is reviewing the programming and services of TVB and ATV. The stations have to observe a set of programme requirements, one of which states they need to broadcast on the Chinese-language channel a minimum of 60 minutes of arts and culture programmes a week, between 8am and midnight.
In its submission, the council says 60 minutes is inadequate and it should be increased to 90 minutes. 'The required broadcasting schedule of arts and culture programmes should be changed to the period from 6.30pm to 11.50pm, which will be in line with the watching preference of free-TV viewers,' it says.
'Following the implementation of the West Kowloon Cultural District project, there is growing need for the development of arts and culture and the promotion of arts education in the society.'
TVB external affairs deputy controller Tsang Sing-ming said the station welcomed the comments but added free-to-air television was aimed at a mass audience. 'We shall give more time for arts and culture programmes in our high-definition channels,' Mr Tsang said.