Domestic free television programme services are intended or available for reception by more than 5,000 domestic premises free of charge in Hong Kong and primarily target Hong Kong. Due to their pervasiveness and their power to exert great influence on society, such services are subject to more stringent regulation. They are required to:

• entertain, inform and educate, and ensure that the programming is balanced in content and comprehensive service which is responsive to the diverse needs and aspirations of the community;
• broadcast a service in the Chinese language and one other in the English language;
• keep the aggregate time of advertising within 10 minutes in a clock hour between the period from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. each day and at other times the aggregate advertising time shall not exceed 18% of the total time the service is provided in that period;
• broadcast a minimum hours of positive programmes under five categories per week, viz. news, current affairs, children, young persons and others¹ as directed by the Communications Authority;
• provide subtitling for all news, current affairs programmes, weather programmes and emergency announcements, as well as all programmes broadcast at hours between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on the Chinese and English service;
• provide sign language for certain duration in news programmes; and
• broadcast announcements in the public interest and publicity materials of the Communications Authority.