HK TV station licenses renewed for telling 'good stories'

TVB, HK Television Entertainment Company (HKTVE) and i-CABLE HOY will keep their free TV licences for another 12 years, with the government approving their renewals alongside measures aimed at supporting the industry and bringing viewers more diverse, quality programmes.

This comes as the chief executive (CE) in council has accepted the recommendations of the Communications Authority (CA), which comprehensively considered licensees' performance and proposals, public views as well as the latest developments in the broadcasting industry. 

The CE in council has agreed to renew the three licensees' free TV licences for another 12 years, accept their investment proposals for the first six years, and support various relaxation measures, including greater flexibility to broadcast non-designated language programmes on both integrated Chinese and English channels and reduced broadcast hours for positive programmes.

Enhancement requirements were also introduced, covering more local production and broadcast of English programmes on telling good stories of Hong Kong and national education-related programmes, stricter subtitling requirements, and a cap on simulcast content.

Meanwhile, the CA has implemented a series of measures for simplifying administrative requirements and streamlining the complaint handling procedures to reduce the compliance costs of the licensees.

The renewed licences will run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2039 for HKTVE, 1 December 2027 to 30 November 2039 for TVB, and 31 May 2028 to 30 May 2040 for i-CABLE HOY. The three licensees have also committed to investing HK HK$2,298 million for HKTVE over the six-year period from 2027 to 2033, HK$6,230 million for TVB from 2028 to 2033, and HK$950 million for i-CABLE HOY from 2028 to 2034.

Under section 11 of the Broadcasting Ordinance, the CA must submit renewal recommendations to the CE in Council no later than 12 months before a licence expires, including any proposed conditions.

A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said the CE in Council's decision to renew the free TV licences, together with the timely regulatory updates, demonstrates the government's commitment to cultivating a more favourable business environment for the broadcasting industry to thrive in, capitalise on the strength of the "Hong Kong brand", and reinforce Hong Kong's position as Asia's world city.

“On the whole, the CA's recommendations on the relaxation measures and enhancement requirements are well-balanced between addressing changes brought by the evolving broadcasting landscape and meeting public expectations,” the spokesman added.

Don't miss: 6 key takeaways for HK marketers from the Policy Address 2026 and five-year plan

The 2026 Policy Address said the government will ease restrictions on the broadcasting industry and keep regulations up to date. With licensee suggestions and public support for relaxing advertising controls, the CA has begun reviewing the Generic Codes of Practice for Television and will consult the public on proposed amendments by year-end, targeting implementation in mid-2027. The review will adopt a principle-based model, removing outdated and prescriptive requirements while safeguarding public interest.

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