Decision on TV licences long overdue

ATV has failed to attract more viewers and yet it continues to operate.文件倉This is because of the government's system which regulates the number of licences.The Executive Council has spent more than three years discussing whether or not to loosen the regulations and offer more free-to-air TV licences. Over that period, a great deal of legislation that is much more controversial has been passed from Exco to the legislature.T存倉e lack of competition means that TVB has monopolised the market, with the resulting decline in quality of output. This is what happens when a monopoly is in place.Only with adequate competition will the free-to-air TV sector improve.The government may not be sincere about genuine political reform or dealing with social injustice, but at least it can ensure TV audiences have some quality entertainment.Tony Chan, Kwun Tong迷你倉