HK sports fans can watch live Asian Games for free on i-Cable

Hongkongers can watch the Hangzhou Asian Games on three i-Cable free TV channels later this year.

The broadcaster said Hong Kong International Business Channel (Channel 76), HOY TV (Channel 77) and HOY Infotainment (Channel 78) will broadcast the games set for September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou.

HOY TV will broadcast the games starting at 9 am each day for over 12 hours while the other two channels will carry the highlights of the games. The games will also be available for viewing on i-Cable mobile app.

The 2023 Asian Games, scheduled for Hangzhou, in Zhejiang Province, was originally set for September 10 to 25 last year, but was postponed to September 23 to October 8 this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In an exclusive broadcast launch ceremony yesterday, i-Cable vice chairman and executive director Patrick Tsang On-yip said airing the games on the three free TV channels is especially meaningful because of the network's transition from paid to free viewership and its development toward multimedia.

Tsang also said a large-scale outdoor publicity campaign is set to be launched in August in cooperation with restaurants and malls to integrate the community.

The chief executive officer and executive director, Felix To Chi-hak, said that current coverage rates of i-Cable TV have reached 96 percent of all households, with updates to a mobile app next month expected to further increase rates.

He also said the transition from paid programs to free viewership did not mean forgetting loyal viewers, with the company seeking avenues to connect with loyal customers in the future. The deputy chief secretary for administration, Cheuk Wing-hing, hoped the broadcast would stir public interest in sport and wished the Hong Kong delegation a successful start to the Games.

Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, chef de mission of the SAR delegation for the Hangzhou games, described the i-Cable broadcast as professional, for it will frequently have live interviews with athletes.

He is looking forward to new events such as e-sports and break dancing, and hoped Hong Kong will do better than ever at the games.

Separately, Hong Kong athletes took home a total of 75 medals from the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Berlin, including 39 golds, 25 silvers and 11 bronzes.

The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, said: "Our athletes showed their strengths in various competitions and achieved outstanding results. They have won the well-deserved medals with skill and perseverance.

"It is very encouraging and I am proud of them. I sincerely congratulate all the athletes and wish them to continue to shine brightly in the future."

Held from June 17 to 25. Hong Kong sent a total of 81 athletes to the Special Olympics who competed in 13 events: athletics, basketball, bocce, badminton, bowling, 7-a-side football, futsal, golf, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, tennis and table tennis. Competitive gymnast Ho Ming-kin did especially well, winning seven gold medals in a single day.

The Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Raistlin Lau Chun, will welcome the athletes back at the airport today.