More TV stations got into trouble yesterday after the National Communications Commission imposed separate fines of NT$1 million (US$34,375) on three channels for failing to distinguish between commercials and regular programming.
The three stations involved were JET Variety Channel (JET), Super TV and Star TV Chinese Channel.
JET is controlled by the same broadcaster as ERA TV’s variety channel, which was taken off the air last year for failing to secure the renewal of its operating license because of a series of broadcasting infractions, including violations of Article 19 of the Satellite Broadcasting Act (衛星廣播電視法), which states that “programs shall maintain their completeness and be distinguishable from advertisement.”
Jason Ho (何吉森), director of the commission’s Department of Communication Content, said all three stations fined yesterday had violated Article 19.
“They only introduced one particular healthcare product in their infomercials,” Ho said. “Department of Health officials informed us that the content of those infomercials also violated health regulations.”
Item 10 on the Enforcement Directions for Suspension of Transmission by the commission, in Accordance with Article 37 of the Satellite Broadcasting Act, states that the broadcast of a terrestrial radio station, a terrestrial TV station or a satellite TV station will be suspended for a period of between three days and three months if it has accrued within two years penalties of NT$3 million, NT$6 million and NT$10 million respectively.
The commission said Item 10 was introduced in 2009. It also said it had reached a consensus with channel operators whereby every channel would begin with a clean slate starting on July 1 last year.
Ho said since July 1, JET had accumulated penalties of NT$3.4 million, including yesterday’s fine, while Star Chinese Channel and Super TV’s had each accumulated NT$2.6 million in fines.
“The commission will issue an official warning to a channel when the accumulated penalties top NT$7 million,” Ho said.
Ho said that 26 channels aired an average of three to four hours of infomercials between March and April last year. Beginning this year, 11 of those stations had decided to stop broadcasting infomercials, while 12 had reduced their broadcasts of infomercials to between 30 minutes and 1 hour. Ho said that while the commission has not banned infomercials, several broadcasters had violated regulations too many times, which could be a barrier to renewing their licenses.
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