Hong Kong’s Communications Authority (CA) has given three DAB licensees an additional three-and-a-half-years to provide an Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) for their digital radio services.

The original date of September 2012 was extended to September this year.

Digital Broadcasting Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited and Phoenix U Radio are required to launch EPG services, which show schedules of current and upcoming broadcasts.

But due to the low availability of DAB+ radio with EPG-enabled features, they have yet to provide the tools.

Broadcasters told CA they also want to focus improving the coverage of DAB services and ensure efficient use of the spectrum assigned for EPG.

Officials say they’ll review the launch of EPG along with the three broadcasters’ mid-licence reviews, which are due in March 2017, giving an additional year’s deadline to launch services.