This briefing covers the erratically emerging market for pay-TV services in Hong Kong following the SAR government’s liberalisation of the market in July 2000 and the awarding of a number of new licenses to operate pay-TV services.In early July 2000 the Hong Kong government awarded five new pay-TV licences.
This opened the local market considerably and set the stage for a period of intense competition for programming, viewer share and advertising.
The new licensees will join the former duopoly of I-cable Communications, a subsidiary of Wharf Communications Investments and iTV, a subsidiary of Cable & Wireless HKT (itself now owned by the irrepressible PCCW).
The new entrants are all relatively seasoned broadcasting companies and include Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting (part of TVB, a local free-to-air broadcaster), Hong Kong DTV Company (controlled by Star TV), a British broadcaster Elmsdsale (which also own Yes TV), Hong Kong Network TV (owned by sino-i.com) and Pacific Digital Media HK, composed of largely Taiwanese interests.