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Media experts caution NCC on `cut-ins'

"Consumers have complained that subtitles occupy too much space on the screen."

Huang Ching-yim a spokesman for the National Communications Commission's contents department

Media watchers responded warily to the announcement by the National Communications Com-mission (NCC) last week that it would amend relevant laws in order to better regulate "cut-ins" -- subtitles running down the sides of television screens during broadcasts.

Television stations nowadays frequently run cut-ins from the top to bottom or left to right of the screen, which the commission said clutters TV screens and confuses many viewers.

But Wu Wen-long (吳文龍), an instructor in the journalism department at Chinese Culture University, said last week that while tweaking the laws may be necessary, the commission should recognize that the messages conveyed in cut-ins often include news content.

Wu said while some viewers may be disoriented when seeing so many separate news feeds on the screen, others may appreciate the cut-ins because they can absorb diversified news content, both video footage and subtitles, in a short period of time.

The commission needs to take the interests of both types of viewers into consideration, he said.

"If [the commission] holds on to outdated broadcasting concepts and negates the value of news content that can be presented by more than one image or a single cut-in, [the amendments] would actually lead the country backward," Wu said.

Wu noted that major international TV news stations such as CNN, BBC, FOX and Bloomberg, use sub-screens or cut-in subtitles to provide updated news coverage. Moreover, their subtitles often point to more in-depth coverage on their respective Web sites, which could appeal to viewers interested in learning more.

"Both the government and network operators have to change their concepts in the multimedia age," he said. "On the government's side, it needs to facilitate the process of digital convergence and encourage innovation."

Last week, after holding seminars with media experts and receiving complaints from viewers, the commission decided to amend the Broadcasting and Television Law (廣播電視法), the Cable Television Law (有線電視法) and the Satellite Broadcasting Law (衛星廣播電視法) regarding the use of subtitles.

"Consumers have complained that subtitles occupy too much space on the screen and feel that their interests have not been taken into account," said Huang Ching-yi (黃金益), a spokesman for the commission's contents department.

The amendment will define clearly the conditions under which cut-ins can be used and specify how they should be run on TV screens.
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