According to Hong Kong’s The Standard, local news from Hong Kong Television (HKTV) will cease airing on the Hong Kong Broadband Network when its contract with the broadcaster ends. It adds that the network’s pay-TV service, bbTV, is the only platform broadcasting the news program, but it will not be renewing its contract with the provider when it expires on August 31, a HKTV spokeswoman confirmed.

HKTV chairman Ricky Wai- kay WONG has met with his 60-staff news department, saying the company has no plans to cut jobs, according to an employee, as reported by The Standard. Wong adds that he has no clue when his station will receive a free-to-air license, but he hopes employees will stay with him during difficult times.

According to The Standard, bbTV has paid HKTV about HK$3 million for six months of news content since last May. The broadcaster has no plans to buy local news programs from other providers after the contract with HKTV ends, a bbTV spokeswoman said. She adds that the station has about 50 channels and 200,000 of its subscribers have been informed about the suspension of the news service. HKTV, formerly known as City Telecom, has been battling to get a terrestrial TV license for more than three years, as have i-Cable and PCCW.