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Letters | Why it was fair to let Hong Kong TV channels pull RTHK shows
- In the internet era, television channels should not be forced to duplicate the content of other broadcasters
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I am writing in response to the letter from Kimi Wong, titled “Hong Kong TV drama: why it’s unfair to let TVB take RTHK shows off the air” (March 7). She argued that the government ignored the original licence agreement and did not consult RTHK before it made its decision. I don’t completely agree with her.
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It is undeniable that TVB and ViuTV, which hold free-to-air licences, bear a responsibility to serve the public interest. However, it is not necessary for them to broadcast RTHK’s programmes because, as stated in the requirements of free-to-air licences, “the Communications Authority may direct a licensee to include in its service such television programmes and other material in the public interest provided by the government.”
Thus, the Communications Authority has the power to decide whether the free-to-air licensees have to broadcast any government programmes at all. Besides, RTHK also has three television channels which cover 99 per cent of Hong Kong’s population. Therefore, it is absolutely lawful for the government to do away with the outdated requirement which has hindered the commercial development of free-to-air licensees for decades.
Did the government consult RTHK before taking this action? I agree with Ms Wong that “it’s important to listen to RTHK’s take on the issue.” But RTHK had “no objection to the request”, according to the government statement. Obviously, a consultation took place before the decision was really launched.
When everyone can access the internet for information nowadays, if the government forces commercial broadcasting companies to sacrifice prime time to ineffectively repeat shows from RTHK, it would be unfair to them.
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Nicolas Lin, Tsing Yi
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