Commercial Radio boss Stephen Chan Chi-wan plans interactive digital radio

The digitalisation of the city's radio industry doesn't need new licences, but rather a new mode of operation and content development combining the best of traditional and new media, Commercial Radio boss Stephen Chan Chi-wan says.

"We are not running a radio station. We are running a new media [operation]," chief executive Chan said, explaining why his firm has not joined the rush to seek a 12-year digital audio broadcasting licence from the government.

Metro Broadcast is the only traditional radio broadcaster to be granted one of the new licences, with two others going to newcomers, Phoenix U Radio and the troubled Digital Broadcasting Corporation (DBC).

Public broadcaster RTHK will also launch digital channels soon, but Commercial Radio withdrew its bid for a digital licence in 2010 and Chan says its future will be in convergence and cross-platform broadcasting instead of traditional radio signals.

"Commercial Radio began digitalisation very early on … there was no need to apply for a new licence," Chan said.

Audiences can now access radio broadcasts on the internet and via smartphone applications. Live videocasts of radio programmes are also available online.

But the company is now looking at how the web can be used to offer immediate interaction between the station and its listeners.