Digital TV tests launched in Hong Kong

RTHK has started test broadcasts in Hong Kong on its digital TV services in the special administrative region.

The Controller (TV) of Radio Television Hong Kong, Ms Chan Man-kuen, officially launched testing from the Temple Hill transmission station on 1 July, marking a milestone in the development of digital terrestrial television service by RTHK.

Ms Chan said about 50 per cent of TV households in Hong Kong should be able to receive broadcasting signals from one high definition television (HDTV) and two standard definition television (SDTV) program channels transmitted by the Temple Hill Station. The other three transmission stations at Golden Hill, Castle Peak and Kowloon Peak are expected to start operations in phases by the first quarter of next year.

Ms Chan stressed that only technical tests on picture and sound quality would be conducted during the current stage and no regular programs would be broadcast. If the signal tests run smoothly, RTHK will proceed to the next stage of trials.

While a number of commercial broadcasters – including ATV, TVB and iCable have been providing digital television services to the territory for several years, this marks RTHK’s first foray into the development of DTV as Hong Kong’s only public service broadcaster.

RTHK has set up a dedicated webpage for the public in Chinese at http://rthk.hk/dtt and in English at http://rthk.hk/about/dtt/index_eng.htm.