PFP says media need changes

In a bid to end political influence in the media, lawmakers yesterday proposed to amend the Broadcasting and Television Law (廣播電視法) to force the government and political parties to sell all shares in terrestrial TV.

People First Party (PFP) lawmakers suggested that regulations be added to restrict the government or political parties from investing or managing broadcast and television industries, and demanded that government or parties who own stock in the media release their ownership within a year.

PFP Legislator Diane Lee (李慶安) said that before the DPP came to power, it had long championed the exclusion of political and military influence from the media, but the public has failed to see any changes for over a year.

She maintained that since terrestrial TV stations are public resources, they should be the first targets of media reform.

According to Lee, 47.39 percent of TTV (台視) shares and 74.95 percent of CTS (華視) shares are held by the government. The KMT controls 35.59 percent of CTV's (中視) shares while 74.55 percent of the stock of Formosa TV (民視) is in the hands of individuals with strong partisan allegiances.

The proposal was introduced in the wake of the debate between DPP legislator Lin Chung-mo (林重謨) and Sisy Chen (陳文茜), an independent legislator-elect.

On Tuesday, Lin launched a diatribe against Chen on the legislative floor, accusing her of misusing the media under her control to criticize President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) administration.

Sisy Chen, a former DPP spokeswoman, is now a popular TV and radio talk show host. She has continued to host TV and radio programs after winning a legislative seat.

"But it sounds like a prostitute commenting on the sex industry," Lin said.

Two days later, the incident turned into an controversy about politicians' ability to manipulate the media.

Incoming DPP lawmaker Lo Wen-chia (羅文嘉) accused Chen of benefiting from a double role as a member of the media and a politician.

According to the information of the Taiwan Media Watch Educational Foundation (台灣媒體觀察教育基金會), nine legislators are hosting TV or radio talk shows, and six lawmakers serve as a chairman of a newspaper or TV programs.

Diane Lee yesterday promised to quit her post as a host of a radio program. KMT lawmaker Apollo Chen (陳學聖) followed suit, saying he would also leave the three programs hosted by him.

However, DPP lawmaker Trong Chai (蔡同榮), chairman of Formosa TV, and Chairman of Global TV (環球電視) Chang Chun-hung (張俊宏) claimed they would never withdraw from the media.

Chai said Formosa TV has been the main driving force for the country's localization and democratization. "I consider myself to have done a great deal for the TV station, and feel a sense of mission to it," he said.

Despite being the manager, Chai said he had never interfered with the content of the programs, and there are no rules that forbid lawmakers from operating TV stations.

DPP lawmaker Chang said that his TV station is a very minor one that does not exert much influence. "When 99 percent of the media is anti-government, what's the harm if a small station comes out to support the government?" he said.

Sisy Chen said on Thursday that she would be willing to quit her job if Chai resigns as the station's chairman of Formosa TV and if the government sells all its shares in CTS and TTV.