Hong Kong TV Channels: Free-to-Air Guide (2026)

These pages cover the channels themselves — who runs them, what language they broadcast in, and the official ways to watch. TVHub does not publish a Hong Kong programme grid, because there is no open schedule feed covering Hong Kong channels in the way TVmaze covers US and UK networks.

Hong Kong free-to-air channels

Channel numbers are the numbers viewers select on digital terrestrial television and have stayed stable through the frequency migration that took effect on 1 December 2021.

How to watch Hong Kong TV

• Over the air. A digital TV or set-top box with an aerial picks up every free-to-air channel listed above at no cost.
• Official streaming. Most broadcasters run their own app or website with live and catch-up viewing, restricted to Hong Kong.
• Pay TV. Platforms such as now TV carry additional channels and hold exclusive rights to some major sport.

TVHub links only to official sources. We do not host, proxy or rebroadcast any video.

How the market is licensed

Hong Kong's free-to-air television licences are granted by the Communications Authority and approved by the Chief Executive in Council. The commercial licensees run their channels under 12-year licences, and in October 2026 the Chief Executive in Council approved fresh 12-year renewals for the commercial free-to-air operators. RTHK is different: it is the city's public service broadcaster and operates its television channels as part of its public remit rather than under a commercial licence.

Reception and equipment

Hong Kong's free-to-air channels are broadcast as digital terrestrial television, so a normal digital TV or a set-top box connected to an aerial is enough to receive them. No subscription and no internet connection are needed for the over-the-air signal.

Two practical points matter if a channel has disappeared from your set. First, six programme channels moved to new transmitting frequencies from 1 December 2021 after a simulcast period that ran from 1 April to 30 November 2021, and a rescan may be needed to restore them; the channel numbers viewers select did not change. Second, most households in public and private housing receive television through a communal aerial system, so if several channels vanish at once the building's system may need retuning rather than your own television.

Streaming through a broadcaster's app is the alternative to an aerial, but it depends on your internet connection and is limited to viewers in Hong Kong.

Watching on a phone, tablet or smart TV

The simplest way to watch on a phone or tablet is the broadcaster's own app, which carries the live feed and, in most cases, a catch-up library. These apps are published by the broadcasters themselves and are restricted to viewers in Hong Kong, so they will not work abroad.

On a smart TV the choice is between the aerial route and the app route. A TV connected to a communal or rooftop aerial receives the channel directly and needs no account. A TV running the broadcaster's app needs an internet connection and the app must be available for that TV platform.

Casting from a phone to a TV works with most of these apps, but live broadcasting rights sometimes block casting on selected programmes, so the picture may be limited to the phone screen for certain events.

TVHub does not host, proxy or rebroadcast any video, and we do not publish app download links to third-party stores.

Watching from outside Hong Kong

Hong Kong broadcasters generally geo-restrict their streaming platforms, so the live feeds are not available abroad. Outside Hong Kong, look for an official international service from the broadcaster, official clips on the broadcaster's own channels, or a pay-TV subscription sold in your country. Unofficial restreams are unreliable and normally infringe the broadcaster's rights.

Hong Kong listings elsewhere

Alongside our own channel guides, the Hong Kong channel listings on HKTV.MY keeps a directory of Hong Kong channels and their schedules. For US and UK listings with full programme grids, see our TV program guide.

How this page is compiled

Channel numbers, operators and launch dates on this page come from public sources: OFCA notices on digital terrestrial television, TVB announcements and its annual report, RTHK service documents, and operator statements. Where a broadcaster has not published a detail, we say so rather than guess.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26. If you spot something out of date, contact us and we will correct it.

Frequently asked questions

How many free-to-air TV channels does Hong Kong have?

Hong Kong's free-to-air digital terrestrial platform carries channels from RTHK (31, 32, 33), TVB (81, 82, 83, 84, 85), the HOY family (76, 77, 78) and ViuTV (96, 99).

Do I need a subscription to watch Hong Kong TV?

No. All the channels listed here are free-to-air and can be received with a digital TV or set-top box. Subscriptions only apply to pay-TV platforms such as now TV.

Which Hong Kong channels broadcast in English?

ViuTVsix (96) and TVB Pearl (84) are the English-language free-to-air channels. HOY IBC (76) broadcasts financial news in English and Mandarin.

Can I watch Hong Kong TV outside Hong Kong?

Generally not through the broadcasters' own platforms, which are geo-restricted. Look for official international services instead.

Does TVHub stream Hong Kong channels?

No. TVHub publishes channel information and links to official sources only.