Several TV stations were penalized by the National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday for running false news reports or allowing product placements in their news programs, with the aggregate penalty reaching approximately NT$5 million (US$150,000).
The commission punished, among others, TVBS-N, SET TV (三立新聞台) and ERA News (年代新聞) for failing to verify sources and misreporting that a fireman who tried to find victims of the collapsed Houfeng Bridge (后豐大橋) was dead. Each station was asked to pay a fine of NT$300,000.
CONTROVERSY
However, the commission did not punish TVBS for the controversial comments made by its anchorwoman Liao Ying-ting (廖盈婷) last month.
Because of a technical glitch, Liao, who was getting ready to take over the primetime news program on Sept. 27, was caught on TV cursing former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), saying: “That guy is a psycho. Tell him to cough up the money. He should eat shit.”
Chen’s office issued a statement later that night condemning the remarks.
TVBS later apologized and blamed the blunder on “technical negligence.”
The commission yesterday only told TVBS to reinforce its quality control mechanism.
INDEPENDENT PANEL
The punishments meted out yesterday were recommended by an independent panel entrusted by the commission to review television news and other programs. The commission adopted and approved the panel’s recommendations and announced them in its weekly press conference yesterday.
The ruling was by far the severest handed down by the new batch of NCC commissioners, who took office in August.
The penalty for Formosa Television (FTV, 民視) topped NT$1.6 million, the largest among all TV stations.
FTV's violations included an evening news report claiming that the viewership rating of Niang Chia (娘家), a Taiwanese drama series produced by FTV, had set new records, as well as repeatedly showing fruit juice and ice cream brands during its news reports.
Chinese Television System (CTS, 華視) was asked to pay NT$840,000 for reporting on a brand of women's underwear, an online game and organic food in its news programs.
ENDORSEMENTS
Jason Ho, director of the NCC's communications content department, said the penalty for each channel was determined based on its record and the seriousness of the case.
“Product placements are one of the major things that the panel focuses on when reviewing the programs,” Ho said.
The NCC started reviewing the programs after audiences filed complaints with the commission.
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