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GIO to cut off live CCTV broadcasts starting tomorrow

The Government Information Office (GIO) will cut the air time of China's China Central Televi-sion (CCTV) starting tomorrow in retaliation for Beijing's recent rejection of four Taiwanese cable stations' applications to broadcast there, a Cabinet official said yesterday.

"We don't have any problem with the contents of their programs but with their unfriendly and even discriminating, man-ners," said Huang Ching-yi (黃金益), chief of the fifth division of the GIO's cable TV department.

Huang called on China to recognize the goodwill the government has extended to CCTV over the years and reciprocate.

"China should be more open-minded in tackling the matter and respond positively to our request," Huang said.

According to Huang, the government gave approval to CCTV broadcasts in 1993 to encourage bilateral exchanges and mutual understanding.

In addition to CCTV, there are 21 local TV stations which broadcast a total of 160 hours a week of Chinese-produced TV programs.

Huang called on China to come to the negotiating table to resolve the problem.

"We don't know when the live broadcast programs will be put back on the air, because it depends on when and how China responds to the matter," he said.

Huang added that since both sides are WTO members, it only makes perfect sense for both sides to sit down and talk under the WTO framework.

"Each WTO member should stand on an equal footing and be treated in a reciprocal manner," Huang said. "The last thing we want to do cut CCTV's air time, but I'm afraid we're left with no other alternative."

CCTV is allowed to broadcast via satellite real-time programs on local stations eight hours a day. Its programs range from talk shows to news programs, including news conferences of Beijing's leaders and other political programs.

The sanction will apply only to those live-broadcast programs. Taped programs will be allowed if they pass the GIO's scrutiny.

Hoping to serve the 3.5 million Taiwanese who visit China every year and the half a million Taiwanese businesspeople and their families who live there, four local cable companies -- Eastern TV, Era Communications, Set TV and USTV -- applied to China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television for broadcast rights last year.

Chinese authorities said last year that they would sanction several offshore broadcasters.

The applications of the four were rejected without explanation, although those of 20 foreign companies were approved.

Only selected hotels in China can receive the broadcast signals of Taiwanese-produced dramas at the present time.
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