Hong Kong’s media regulator has revealed that the territory’s three DAB licencees are investing US$77 million (HK$594 million) in the new platform.

In its annual report released on Wednesday, The HK Communications Authority said Digital Broadcasting Company, Metro Broadcast and Phoenix Radio are spending the money over six years to cover the construction of their DAB network and studio facilities and production of DAB programmes.

Between 2011 and 2017, DBC will invest HK$391 million, Metro is due to spend $96.1 million and Phoenix U has earmarked $107.3 million.

Public broadcaster RTHK’s investment in digital radio is excluded from these figures.

This comes in addition to the HK$1.5 billion that analogue broadcasters CRHK and Metro are committed to spend on their radio services.

Hong Kong’s 15 DAB channels broadcast around 2520 hours per week as of March 2013, according to the regulator’s figures.