Digital_Broadcasting_Corporation_(Hong_Kong)
Digital Broadcasting Corporation
Defunct Hong Kong digital radio broadcaster
Digital Broadcasting Corporation Hong Kong Limited (DBC) (Chinese: 香港數碼廣播有限公司), formerly known as Wave Media Limited (Chinese: 雄濤廣播有限公司), is a licensed independent digital audio broadcasting (DAB+) operator with most number of channels in Hong Kong. DBC was granted licence by the Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority in March 2011. There are currently four operators providing digital audio broadcasting services with a total of 18 channels. Being the largest digital broadcaster in the territory, DBC operates 7 channels. Major shareholder of DBC is Bill Wong. Board of directors are Arthur Li, Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong and Loh Chan.[1]
In summer 2012, DBC underwent a period of corporate dispute, leading the station to closure.[2] Albert Cheng said shareholder Bill Wong had refused to invest more funds after receiving instructions from an unnamed official at the Central Government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong.[3][4] The radio station announced its closure on 10 October 2012.[5] On 19 October 2012, activists and radio hosts began a three-day sit-in protest in front of the government headquarters in Admiralty.[4]
On 20 December 2013, DBC held its grand re-launch.[6] Calling an end to the previous corporate dispute was the restructuring of board of directors. Albert Cheng is no longer a shareholder of nor a host in DBC.
DBC decided to close and return its operating licence to the government with effect from 7 September 2016 affecting 113 staff, because the digital audio broadcasting was not popular, and it did not receive enough advertisement to support the revenue.[7]