The legislature yesterday passed amendments to three broadcasting laws, fulfilling the government's goal of eliminating political influence from broadcast media.
The Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the Broadcasting and Television Law (
The government and political parties will have two years to sell their shares in private broadcasters, according to the amended Broadcasting and Television Law.
Government agencies have six months to draft regulations on how the shares should be disposed of, and an ad hoc commission comprising legislative representatives from various parties and media professionals will oversee the process. The regulations must get legislative approval.
Politicians, including the staff of political parties, government personnel and elected officials, are obliged to resign their posts as shareholder, owner or manager in media organizations within six months of the amendments taking effect.
The revisions also set restrictions on the media interests of politicians' families.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lo Wen-chia (
"The next mission of advocates for a neutral media environment is demanding that the four legislators who host TV programs and 11 others who host radio shows quit their media posts and cease their dual role in politics and the media," Lo said after the amendments passed.
Lo said the passage of amendments was a major legislative achievement based on the cooperation of all parties.
"The only blemish was that the amendments do not regulate all kinds of politicians' conduct in the media industry," Lo said. "The controversy over political parties funding TV programs is one case, in addition to the problem that current statutes do not settle the dispute about politicians hosting programs in the media industry."
The revised Broadcasting and Television Law creates a National Communications Commission (NCC,
The new amendments also spell the end of A-bian Portrait (
According to an article proposed by KMT Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (
Chen is seeking re-election in next year's presidential vote.
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