An online television channel was launched by a group of four experienced media figuers yesterday to provide a forum for members of the public to voice their opinions.
"This online TV channel allows the public to send in their DV [digital video] clips, and we will publish these clips online and even on the TV shows that we host," said Lin Kuei-you (林奎佑), who is widely known as Yu-fu (魚夫).
PHOTO: CNA
The other three founders of the channel, called F4, are actress Chiang Hsia (江霞), writer Wu Jin-fa (吳錦發) and Soochow University professor Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉). All four have been wrongly accused of staffing the behind-the-scenes production team of the Special Report VCD series.
Lin, Wu and Hsieh currently host their own TV talk shows on current affairs.
"The clips should be entertaining, funny and creative. Of course, the contents of all clips should be legal and ethical. If you don't know how digital video works, just ask your children or grandchildren -- they will know all about it," Lin said.
Chiang said the name F4 re-presents the four ethnic groups in Taiwan that are represented by the four founders.
"Lin has Aboriginal heritage, Shieh is a Mainlander, Wu is Hakka and I am Taiwanese," Chiang said.
The logo of F4 TV is four connected rings.
"This represents the unification of all four ethnic groups," Chiang said.
Wu said capitalism has infiltrated the Taiwanese media in recent years.
"Since the turn of the century, the media has been invaded by rich investors. As a result, the news that is represented to the public has become biased and prejudiced, and represents the personal opinions of these investors. Therefore, in establishing this online television channel, we hope to promote public opinions being voiced in a public space," Wu said.
According to Shieh, "it used to be that the media observed the public, but now it is the public who is keeping an eye on the media."
Lin said F4 planned to raise NT$6 million to support the technical needs of the Web site.
"NT$100 per person from 60,000 people will be enough to send F4 into full operation. Before then, outstanding digital clips will be shown on our TV shows," Lin said.
F4 TV has a team of four attorneys to protect the rights of individuals whose clips have been published in case of litigation.
The Web site for the F4 TV channel is: http://www.f4tv.tv.
The inspection equipment and data transmission system for new robotic dogs that Taipei is planning to use for sidewalk patrols were developed by a Taiwanese company, the city’s New Construction Office said today, dismissing concerns that the China-made robots could pose a security risk. The city is bringing in smart robotic dogs to help with sidewalk inspections, Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Ssu-chuan (李四川) said on Facebook. Equipped with a panoramic surveillance system, the robots would be able to automatically flag problems and easily navigate narrow sidewalks, making inspections faster and more accurate, Lee said. By collecting more accurate data, they would help Taipei
STATS: Taiwan’s average life expectancy of 80.77 years was lower than that of Japan, Singapore and South Korea, but higher than in China, Malaysia and Indonesia Taiwan’s average life expectancy last year increased to 80.77 years, but was still not back to its pre-COVID-19 pandemic peak of 81.32 years in 2020, the Ministry of the Interior said yesterday. The average life expectancy last year increased the 0.54 years from 2023, the ministry said in a statement. For men and women, the average life expectancy last year was 77.42 years and 84.30 years respectively, up 0.48 years and 0.56 years from the previous year. Taiwan’s average life expectancy peaked at 81.32 years in 2020, as the nation was relatively unaffected by the pandemic that year. The metric
TAKING STOCK: The USMC is rebuilding a once-abandoned airfield in Palau to support large-scale ground operations as China’s missile range grows, Naval News reported The US Marine Corps (USMC) is considering new sites for stockpiling equipment in the West Pacific to harden military supply chains and enhance mobility across the Indo-Pacific region, US-based Naval News reported on Saturday. The proposed sites in Palau — one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies — and Australia would enable a “rapid standup of stored equipment within a year” of the program’s approval, the report said, citing documents published by the USMC last month. In Palau, the service is rebuilding a formerly abandoned World War II-era airfield and establishing ancillary structures to support large-scale ground operations “as China’s missile range and magazine
Passengers on Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) will be required to use headphones and make phone calls in gangways under new “quiet travel” rules starting Sept. 22. THSR Chairman Shih Che (史哲) told media that THSR will run a three-month promotional campaign to ensure widespread adoption of the new rules. Those repeatedly ignoring the guidance face the potential termination of their transport contract, which can result in them getting escorted off the train, according to THSR. Shih shared his hope to cultivate an environment conducive to rest and reading for the train’s passengers, stating that these changes aim to “promote self-discipline” among passengers