The nation may see implementation of an “a la carte” pricing scheme for cable television by 2017, the National Communications Commission (NCC) said yesterday.
Currently, cable TV subscribers pay a fixed monthly fee of between NT$490 and NT$600 for about 100 channels. The proposed new pricing scheme would allow customers to pay only for those bundles of channels they subscribe to.
Chi Hsiao-cheng (紀效正), a specialist at the commission’s department of planning, said cable TV operators must present different entertainment packages for consideration when the administrative authority in charge reviews their proposed monthly rates for 2017.
He added that the range of packages must include one containing all the basic channels at a maximum price of NT$200 a month, and at least three other basic channel packages priced between NT$100 and NT$130.
The basic channels include Taiwan Television, China Television, Chinese Television System, Formosa Television, Public Television Service and its high-definition channel, Hakka TV, Taiwan Indigenous TV, free public channels and those produced by the cable TV operator, as well as the channel guide.
Aside from a package containing the basic channels, Chi said that each operator should offer other packages.
The NCC will not limit the number of channels, or types of channels, included in these packages, with the exception of home-shopping channels which should not be included in any of these bundles, he said.
Meanwhile, Chi said that for customers choosing a combination of the basic channel packages, rates would be capped at NT$500 per month, with the aggregate number of basic channels no fewer than are currently available.
The monthly cap requirement would not apply if subscribers also select other paid channels or pay-per-view channels, he added.
The NCC made the announcement after it approved an amendment to the pricing scheme for cable television services, which had not been adjusted for a decade.
During the meeting, the commission also ruled to use the progress made in provision of digital cable TV services as a benchmark for setting rates for cable TV services between next year and 2016.
When reviewing the proposed monthly subscription rates for next year, the commission will check the penetration rates of digital cable television services recorded in the third quarter of this year, and compare them with the rates recorded in the fourth quarter of last year.
Operators found to have a percentage increase exceeding 4.5 percent can maintain a NT$600 cap on monthly fees, but those who do not would be asked to cut their rate by NT$10 to NT$15 a month.
When reviewing the rates for 2015 and 2016, the commission will check if a cable TV service’s number of subscribers has topped 45 percent and 75 percent of the nation’s total subscribers respectively.
Those failing to meet the designated thresholds would be asked to cap their monthly fees at NT$450 and NT$350 respectively.
In related news, the NCC ruled that CtiTV must address issues with its internal control mechanism within a designated period of time following a biennial evaluation.
Though the number of its recorded violations dropped from 14 in the previous evaluation to eight, the type of violations found were more serious, the NCC said.
Between 2010 and last year, the channel was fined for failing to separate advertisements from programs, and for violating the Protection of Children and Youth Welfare and Rights Act (兒童及少年福利與權益保障法) and other laws.
The NCC said that CtiTV must submit measures to address these issues, before the commission decides if it has passed the evaluation.
An increase in Taiwanese boats using China-made automatic identification systems (AIS) could confuse coast guards patrolling waters off Taiwan’s southwest coast and become a loophole in the national security system, sources familiar with the matter said yesterday. Taiwan ADIZ, a Facebook page created by enthusiasts who monitor Chinese military activities in airspace and waters off Taiwan’s southwest coast, on Saturday identified what seemed to be a Chinese cargo container ship near Penghu County. The Coast Guard Administration went to the location after receiving the tip and found that it was a Taiwanese yacht, which had a Chinese AIS installed. Similar instances had also
GOOD DIPLOMACY: The KMT has maintained close contact with representative offices in Taiwan and had extended an invitation to Russia as well, the KMT said The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) would “appropriately handle” the fallout from an invitation it had extended to Russia’s representative to Taipei to attend its international banquet last month, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday. US and EU representatives in Taiwan boycotted the event, and only later agreed to attend after the KMT rescinded its invitation to the Russian representative. The KMT has maintained long-term close contact with all representative offices and embassies in Taiwan, and had extended the invitation as a practice of good diplomacy, Chu said. “Some EU countries have expressed their opinions of Russia, and the KMT respects that,” he
VIGILANCE: The military is paying close attention to actions that might damage peace and stability in the region, the deputy minister of national defense said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) might consider initiating a hack on Taiwanese networks on May 20, the day of the inauguration ceremony of president-elect William Lai (賴清德), sources familiar with cross-strait issues said. While US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s statement of the US expectation “that all sides will conduct themselves with restraint and prudence in the period ahead” would prevent military actions by China, Beijing could still try to sabotage Taiwan’s inauguration ceremony, the source said. China might gain access to the video screens outside of the Presidential Office Building and display embarrassing messages from Beijing, such as congratulating Lai
Four China Coast Guard ships briefly sailed through prohibited waters near Kinmen County, Taipei said, urging Beijing to stop actions that endanger navigation safety. The Chinese ships entered waters south of Kinmen, 5km from the Chinese city of Xiamen, at about 3:30pm on Monday, the Coast Guard Administration said in a statement later the same day. The ships “sailed out of our prohibited and restricted waters” about an hour later, the agency said, urging Beijing to immediately stop “behavior that endangers navigation safety.” Ministry of National Defense spokesman Sun Li-fang (孫立方) yesterday told reporters that Taiwan would boost support to the Coast Guard