89% of Hong Kong residents to switch to digital TV

A survey last September found 61% of Hong Kong families or 1.4 million TV households now receive digital terrestrial television services.

Hong Kong's digital television coverage will grow to 89% of the population with the completion of two more fill-in transmitting stations due for completion this month.

Undersecretary for Commerce & Economic Development Gregory So told legislators on Monday the new facilities add to the six principal transmitting stations and 12 fill-in stations completed over the last two years, according to a government report.

With additional areas covered by the new fill-in stations, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority will update its online database and building list in the coming months.

A September survey found 61% of Hong Kong families, representing 1.4 million television households, now receive digital terrestrial television services via set-top boxes, integrated digital TV-sets and computers.

Mr So said nearly 40% of households are still watching analogue television. The Government will closely monitor developments including the actual market situation, and the prevailing digital terrestrial television take-up rate, and ensure a smooth migration from analogue television to digital.