Hong Kong – About 9.7% of Hong Kong households are watching digital terrestrial television, as reach is extended from 50% to 75% of the SAR. Acting Permanent Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Alan Siu said a survey conducted end-May showed that about 218,000 families are watching digital TV through digital TV receivers or computers. “The DTT take-up rate in most of the advanced economies does not exceed 5% in the first year of launch, while that of Hong Kong has reached nearly 10% just six months after the launch,” Siu said. Following the extension of the coverage and launching of the Olympic Games programmes by the two free-to-air broadcasters, it is expected that more people will switch to DTT, he added. With six new transmitting stations coming into service, the coverage of free digital terrestrial television broadcasting will be extended to all 18 districts, reaching 75% of the population by early August. A recent survey found 6,300 of 10,000 buildings will have their communal aerial broadcast distribution systems upgraded to receive digital TV signals by early August, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority said.