Partiality in air for TV and radio

Broadcasters need not be "impartial" in programs involving national education, national identity and the national security law, the Communications Authority suggested, as television and radio stations may breach the law if they try to include opposing views in an effort to appear balanced.

That hint came as it yesterday asked for views on proposals for relaxing or updating the codes of practice for programs as well as the advertising standards of television and sound broadcasting services. The consultation will last until August 16.

"The authority has reviewed the codes of practice to enable licensees to meet the challenges of the rapidly evolving business environment while protecting the interests of the community at large," it said.

Eleven proposals are being put forward.

On program sponsorship and indirect advertising on TV and radio, it suggested general and overarching principles be used to regulate sponsor identifications, instead of detailed prescriptions like numbers and sizes.

Display of sponsorship references in children's programs in the form of superimposed text or visual objects should be allowed, and a general prohibition on indirect advertising in radio programs should be lifted, while both would be subject to conditions.

The authority advised an explicit stipulation be made that the impartiality requirement is not applicable to the programs on national education, national identity and the correct understanding of the natsec law.

This proposal comes in wake of the latest requirement for free TV and radio licensees to broadcast no less than 30 minutes of programs on national education, national identity and the correct understanding of the natsec law per week.

In addition, it also proposed exemptions from the requirement of having to comply with the codes be offered to directly retransmitted programs and channels acquired from reputable mainland sources.

Other suggestions included removing limitations on the appearance of people giving testimonials in weight-loss ads and allowing free-to-air TV stations to repeat the same children's program four times within a period of 24 months.

TV stations could use QR codes in the ads to substantiate factual claims, and radio broadcasters could use a shorter aural message for property advertisements.

TV licensees also would not need to provide classification symbols in promos.

Views may be given by email (consultation-cop@ofca.gov.hk), fax (2507-2219) or mail (Office of the Communications Authority, 20/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; Attn: Broadcasting Section 23).