Over half of Hong Kong households receiving digital TV services

About 53.3% of the households in Hong Kong are receiving digital terrestrial television (DTT) services, according to the latest public survey conducted in June 2010. This represents approximately 1.23 million households and an increase of more than 300,000 as compared to a year ago.

“The implementation of DTT broadcasting has been smooth since its official launch at the end of 2007. We are pleased to see the take-up rate growing steadily, which shows that DTT services continue to be well received by the viewing public,” a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said today (July 25).

The spokesman noted that DTT coverage would be further extended to at least 89% of the population from the existing 85% by the end of this year when the two free-to-air broadcasters completed the construction of eight more fill-in transmitting stations.

The eight new stations would extend the DTT signals to cover areas in Yuen Long, Shek O, Luk Keng, Ping Che, Stanley, Cheung Chau, Tai Lam Chung, Tai Po Tsai, Tai O, etc. An additional 280,000 people will be able to enjoy the brand new audio-visual experience brought by DTT broadcasting.

The survey also found that while set-top box remained the major type of receiver used by DTT viewers, the rate of using integrated digital TV (iDTV) sets had shown a significant increase in the past year, the spokesman added.

“It showed that more and more people chose iDTV sets over set-top box or other types of receivers when they switched to DTT. With its growing popularity, the average market price of iDTV sets had dropped by about 20% during the period,” he said.

As at early July 2010, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) has authorised 208 models of DTT receivers which are capable of receiving channels of standard-definition TV and high-definition TV. Among them, 142 models are iDTV sets and 66 are set-top boxes.