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RTHK

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Radio Television Hong Kong, commonly known as RTHK, is the public broadcasting service for Hong Kong.

Radio Television Hong Kong Logo
Radio Television Hong Kong Logo

It operates as a government department under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau. The service receives direct annual funding from the Hong Kong Government to function. RTHK produces a wide variety of content, including educational, entertainment, and public affairs programs. These broadcasts reach the public through eight radio channels and five television channels. Some RTHK programs are also aired on commercial television stations to reach more viewers.

The technical operations of RTHK have evolved significantly since its inception. In 1969, the station moved its medium wave AM transmitting station to Golden Hill in the New Territories. This new site used much more powerful transmitters than the previous waterfront site in Hung Hom. However, the mountain-top location proved unsuitable for certain medium wave transmissions. This resulted in problematic reception in some areas that has lasted for many years. During that same year, the headquarters moved to purpose-built studios at Broadcasting House in Kowloon Tong.

RTHK has undergone several major organizational changes throughout its long history. The service began on June 20, 1928, as GOW, the first broadcasting service in Hong Kong. At its launch, the station had a very small staff of only six people. In 1948, the name changed to Radio Hong Kong, or RHK. By 1954, RHK had established itself as an independent department. The name RTHK was adopted in 1976 to reflect the station's growing role in television production. In 1986, the headquarters moved again to Television House, the former Commercial Television studios.

News production at RTHK has seen dramatic shifts in how information is gathered and shared. Before 1969, news headlines arrived at studios every half-hour via teleprinter from the Government Information Services. Full news bulletins were even hand-delivered by messengers. After the move to Broadcasting House, RTHK established its own dedicated newsroom in 1973. This allowed journalists to move beyond magazine programs to manage the entire news operation. In 1989, the station expanded its reach by establishing Radio 7, its first news and financial news channel.

The radio service currently consists of eight distinct stations serving different needs.

RTHK Radio 1 focuses on Cantonese news, current affairs, and phone-in programs. Radio 2 provides Cantonese popular music and arts culture. Radio 3 offers English news and adult contemporary music, similar to BBC Radio 4. Radio 4 provides English and Cantonese classical music and fine arts. Radio 5 focuses on Cantonese classics, opera, and programs for the elderly. The station also operates the Putonghua Channel, the China National Radio Voice of Hong Kong Channel, and the China Media Group Radio The Greater Bay FM.

Television services at RTHK are also diverse, with five main channels currently in operation. RTHK TV 31 is a general channel for current affairs and culture. RTHK TV 32 covers live events like Legislative Council meetings and press conferences. RTHK TV 33 and TV 34 provide simulcasts of documentary and news content. RTHK TV 35 is a 24-hour English news channel. The station also experimented with specialized channels, such as RTHK TV 36, which relayed sports for the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. This channel began test transmissions in June 2024 and ceased broadcasting on November 1, 2024.

In recent years, RTHK has faced significant management and political changes. In 2021, the government initiated a review of the broadcaster's operations following complaints of bias. A government report criticized the station for having weak editorial accountability and a lack of transparency in decision-making. Consequently, the Director of Broadcasting, Leung Ka-wing, left his post. He was replaced by Patrick Li, a civil servant without previous broadcasting experience. Since 2021, RTHK has also increased its cooperation with mainland China media groups to strengthen patriotism in its programming.

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File:Radio Television Hong Kong Logo.svg
Radio Television Hong Kong Logo.svg
File:Hong-Kong-Emmas-Radio-Show-RTHK-Radio-Sep-07-2001-00.JPG
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