Hong Kong’s Executive Council has extended the free-to-air licence of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) for 12 years.
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So said the decision was based on public consultation and recommendations from the Communications Authority.
The largest TV channel in Hong Kong is, however, required to adhere to additional improvements in response to public concerns about its programming quality.
According to RTHK, this will entail producing a minimum amount of home-grown community-focused TV shows and adding more programmes to its digital channel.
TVB has been involved in a number of controversies recently.
In October 2014, it was accused of self-censoring footage of a group of policemen allegedly brutalising a protester during an Occupy Central demonstration.
In April this year, Chinese tycoon Li Ruigang joined a consortium that controls 26 percent of the network’s voting rights.
Variety reports that shares from the consortium were sold to a state-backed equity fund under Li, and the deal was approved by Hong Kong authorities.
No concrete details have emerged, but the move marks the first time Hong Kong’s leading free-to-air broadcaster has allowed mainland influence in its boardroom.
Earlier this year, the government also granted a free-to-air licence to PCCW’s Hong Kong Television Entertainment after ATV’s licence was not renewed. The new channel will begin broadcasting before April 2016.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Television Network won a judicial review last month as the High Court ruled the cabinet’s refusal to grant the channel a free-to-air licence was unlawful. The court ordered the matter to be reconsidered.
HKTV was unsuccessful in its licence bid in October 2013 while its competitors were all given the green light.
