With the launch of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services in January 2014 by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), the public is enjoying more choices in addition to the services delivered by the existing commercial-free TV broadcasters. The three high-definition channels – namely RTHK TV 31, RTHK 32 and RTHK 33 – provide a wide variety of programmes.
RTHK TV 31 is an integrated channel offering programmes on current affairs, education, information, culture, arts and dramas. These include new programmes specially produced for the DTT channel, acquired programmes, a selection of RTHK’s productions, classic archive programmes, educational television programmes, weather reports and programmes simulcast in prime time slots on the regions’ two free-to-air television stations. RTHK TV 32 provides live feed programmes of Legislative Council meetings every Wednesday and other important press conferences as well as signals issued to the public. RTHK TV 33 relays the programmes of China Central Television-9 Documentary 24 hours a day.
Broadcasting Director Roy Tang (middle), together with a HK government official (right) and Asia’s notable singer Leon Lai (left) officiated at a launch ceremony of RTHK TV 31.
RTHK’s DTT services are dedicated to stimulate creativity, nurture local talents and encourage excellence to enrich the multi-cultural life of the people in Hong Kong, such as broadcasting commissioned documentaries, dramas, animations, and arts and cultural programmes produced by local teams of creative talents. Some of the commissioned television programmes in the pipeline for 2014 include The New Below the Lion Rock, The Series of Chinese Writers and We Grow Up by Singing These Songs.
TV households within the signal coverage area of the transmission stations should be able to receive RTHK’s DTT broadcasting signals with the use of standalone antennas in reasonably good condition and DTT receivers. Through in-building communal aerial broadcast distribution (CABD) systems, the CABD system owners and managers of the buildings need to install an appropriate DTT channel receiving equipment in the system before receiving RTHK DTT Channels.
Several other platforms for viewing RTHK’s productions include the RTHK website (rthk.hk), which provide webcast of RTHK TV 31, and an original mobile app “RTHK Screen”, which also provides webcast for RTHK TV 31 and 32, and features other functions such as video-on-demand (VoD), download and programme subscriptions. The application is available for devices with iOS 5.0 or later, and Android 4.0 or above.
