The Executive Yuan said recently that it is planning to spend NT$9.2 billion (US$284 million) to build a second single-frequency network, to establish a platform for high-definition television (HDTV) technology and for digital video broadcasting.
The spending forms part of the nation's digitization project and will also set up four more digital TV channels and a digital database of TV programs. The program has become a topic of heated discussion among the ruling and opposition parties. However, we should consider whether the project will improve the development of the media and the rights of the general public.
The Cable TV household penetration rate in Taiwan is high, but market forces have limited impact on the industry, given the level of monopolization. Although the Government Information Office's (GIO's) move to revoke the operating licenses of seven cable TV channels had some impact, the government has yet to pursue comprehensive structural improvement.
Structural reform must cover at least three platforms: cable TV, terrestrial TV and satellite TV. Terrestrial TV in particular is a representation of a nation's mainstream culture. Many satellite TV channels are broadcast abroad, and a number of cable TV channels rely on foreign investment (some are suspected of using capital from China). Therefore, as the government pushes ahead with the digitization project and the public begins to gain greater access to a variety of TV channels, adjusting the structure of Taiwan's media and enhancing cultural awareness among the general public has become a matter of urgency.
The NT$9.2 billion project to create a second single-frequency network is part of the nation's hardware infrastructure directed at digitizing the terrestrial TV channels. When the first and second single-frequency networks are fully operational, broadcast bands can be reorganized, freeing up space for new free-to-air radio and TV channels. This will offset the current preponderance of cable TV stations and provide the public with more options in terms of prices, quality and content.
Why is it significant that the government is digitizing terrestrial TV services and giving the public more TV channels? In Taiwan, with the exception of the Public Television Service, which is mandated by law, cable TV is the sole preserve of commercial groups.
Therefore, the government's attempt to expand public broadcasting services over a digital terrestrial platform is intended to offer more high-quality content and provide more options for consumers.
I should emphasize here that the terrestrial digital TV channels we shall see in the future will lead to higher quality public broadcasting than we have at present, offering a wider range of services than are currently available, in addition to commercial TV channels.
The Public Broadcasting Act (
This will prevent these public groups from turning into money pits.
After all, the public has to pay cable operators for services that include free-to-air channels.
The new platform, when it is complete, will have succeeded in giving consumers more choices and improving services only if it also leads to lower prices -- such as a monthly fee of NT$100 per household and 30 quality HDTV channels with a variety of content.
Weng Shieu-chi is a professor in the department of journalism at National Chengchi University.
TRANSLATED DANIEL CHENG AND PAUL COOPER
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
US President Trump weighed into the state of America’s semiconductor manufacturing when he declared, “They [Taiwan] stole it from us. They took it from us, and I don’t blame them. I give them credit.” At a prior White House event President Trump hosted TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), head of the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, to announce a commitment to invest US$100 billion in America. The president then shifted his previously critical rhetoric on Taiwan and put off tariffs on its chips. Now we learn that the Trump Administration is conducting a “trade investigation” on semiconductors which
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
RSS