Hong Kong Commerce, Industry & Technology Bureau announced Wednesday it has set up working groups with Asia Television Limited (ATV) and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) to ensure the timely and smooth launch of digital services next year.

Led by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, the groups will work with the television stations to solve technical issues related to the transmission and reception of digital terrestrial television and facilitate inter-departmental coordination to ensure successful migration from analogue to digital TV at different stages.

Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology (Communications & Technology) Marion Lai said the bureau's priority is a smooth transition. The prerequisite for such a transition is the rollout of a digital broadcasting network.

"With more content on the digital platform, better reception quality and new high-definition TV services, we believe that consumers in Hong Kong will readily acquire the products to reap the benefits of digital TV," she said.

In order to ensure a smooth digital switchover, a new website was launched Wednesday as part of a major publicity drive to raise awareness and improve understanding of digital TV.

The Broadcasting Authority has approved the investment plans ofATV and TVB for their digital TV program service and network rollout. ATV has committed more than 400 million HK dollars (US$51.28 million) up to 2009 to provide a hybrid digital service of high-definition television (HDTV) and multi-channel broadcasting, while TVB has committed the same for an HDTV channel starting from the end of next year. The HDTV channel will include at least 14 hours per day of HDTV programs.

In July 2004, the bureau announced the implementation framework for digital TV in Hong Kong. According to the blueprint, ATV and TVB will start broadcasting their existing services in both analogue and digital format (simulcasting) and launch a new digital service on the respective additional frequency channel assigned to them by 2007.

ATV and TVB will extend the coverage of their digital networks to at least 75 percent of Hong Kong by 2008.

If the mainland has not promulgated a national standard by the end of 2006, ATV and TVB will adopt the European DVB-T standard, which has been widely adopted internationally.

Subject to further market and technical studies, the government will direct ATV and TVB to switch off analogue broadcasting within five years after the commencement of the simulcast.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2006)