The South China Morning Post has reported that the Office of the Communications Authority has imposed a fine of HK$200, 000 each on TVB and ATV for illegal spectrum trading.

The watchdog said the two stations were required under their licences to equally share the transmission capacity of a multiple frequency network, for digital broadcast of programmes on their four analogue FTA channels, added the report.

TVB, however, had used more than half of the transmission capacity for broadcasting its Pearl and Jade channels in HD, while ATV continued to broadcast its Home and World channels in SD, according to The Standard.

Also, The Standard reported that the Communications Authority found that this arrangement was based on a commercial agreement between the two broadcasters.