The Broadcasting Authority is inviting the public to express views on Wave Media's application for a sound-broadcasting licence.

The application involves the operation of a Hong Kong-wide radio channel at 810kHz in the AM frequency band, which is the only vacant channel covering the whole city.

Wave Media plans to broadcast locally produced Chinese language programmes 24 hours a day. It plans to start service within a year from the date the licence is granted.

The company has nine shareholders including business executives, bankers, investors, professionals and media executives, and it plans to inject up to $140 million into the company after the licence has been granted.

According to its submission, the initial capital investment is estimated to be $39 million for infrastructure construction, and a $69 million loss is forecast for the early stage of operation.

Careful consideration

The authority will consider representations from the public and other factors, such as the feasibility of the applicant's technical proposal on the use of the frequency spectrum, and the management, financial and technical capability of the applicant to establish and maintain a sound broadcasting service, before making its recommendations to the Chief Executive in Council.

Application details will be uploaded to the authority's website and published in the South China Morning Post and Ming Pao newspapers tomorrow.