The media regulator yesterday announced it would add additional ratings to the current television program rating system.
Jason Ho (何吉森), director of the National Communications Commission’s communication content department, said the department would likely produce a draft of the new ratings system in the middle of this year.
Ho made the comments after MOMO Kids TV (MOMO) sparked criticism earlier this week for airing a Japanese cartoon containing content that was deemed inappropriate for children.
Ho confirmed that the commission had referred the case to the independent content review committee, which would determine whether the channel violated the Regulations Governing the Classification of Television Programs (電視節目分級處理辦法).
MOMO’s management would also be requested to visit the commission and brief commissioners on how they control the quality of the channel’s programming.
Although the cartoon was aired at 9pm, Ho said parents allow their children to watch programs on MOMO because the channel has positioned itself as one that only broadcasts general rating programs.
Any inappropriate content for children should not occur on the channel, he said.
At present, there are four TV ratings each one divided into four categories. Programs classified “general” (G) are suitable for all ages, while those classified “protected” (P) are restricted to six-years-old and above, with those between six and 12-years-old requiring parental guidance. Programs classified “parental guidance” (PG) can be watched by those aged 12-years-old and above, with those between 12 and 18-years-old requiring parental guidance. Programs labeled “restricted” (R) can only be watched by those 18-years-old and above.
Ho said some media experts had proposed adding more classifications between the G and P ratings, adding that classifications could be divided by age.
“Spongebob SquarePants, for example, does not necessarily have a G rating in other countries,” he said.
Ho said the commission would also start regulating commercials on children’s channel, as some parents think that commercials for underwear and fast food should not appear.
The commission would consult with experts before submitting a final draft for approval, Ho said.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong effective from 5:30pm, while local governments canceled school and work for tomorrow. A land warning is expected to be issued tomorrow morning before it is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, the agency said. Taoyuan, and well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties canceled work and school for tomorrow, as well as mountainous district of Taipei and New Taipei City. For updated information on closures, please visit the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration Web site. As of 5pm today, Fung-wong was about 490km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan's southernmost point.
Almost a quarter of volunteer soldiers who signed up from 2021 to last year have sought early discharge, the Legislative Yuan’s Budget Center said in a report. The report said that 12,884 of 52,674 people who volunteered in the period had sought an early exit from the military, returning NT$895.96 million (US$28.86 million) to the government. In 2021, there was a 105.34 percent rise in the volunteer recruitment rate, but the number has steadily declined since then, missing recruitment targets, the Chinese-language United Daily News said, citing the report. In 2021, only 521 volunteers dropped out of the military, the report said, citing
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Kaohsiung at 1pm today, the Central Weather Administration said. The epicenter was in Jiasian District (甲仙), 72.1km north-northeast of Kaohsiung City Hall, at a depth of 7.8km, agency data showed. There were no immediate reports of damage. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effects of a temblor, was highest in Kaohsiung and Tainan, where it measured a 4 on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale. It also measured a 3 in parts of Chiayi City, as well as Pingtung, Yunlin and Hualien counties, data showed.
Nearly 5 million people have signed up to receive the government’s NT$10,000 (US$322) universal cash handout since registration opened on Wednesday last week, with deposits expected to begin tomorrow, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. After a staggered sign-up last week — based on the final digit of the applicant’s national ID or Alien Resident Certificate number — online registration is open to all eligible Taiwanese nationals, foreign permanent residents and spouses of Taiwanese nationals. Banks are expected to start issuing deposits from 6pm today, the ministry said. Those who completed registration by yesterday are expected to receive their NT$10,000 tomorrow, National Treasury
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