The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday approved Formosa TV’s (FTV) license renewal application, on the condition that within a year of obtaining the renewed license, the network’s terrestrial television channel reduce its violations of broadcast regulations by 50 percent from the previous year.
Huang Ching-yi (黃金益), deputy director of the NCC’s operational management department, said the commission would check if the network has actually lived up to its promise in this regard.
“Based on Article 123 of the Administrative Procedure Act (行政程序法), the commission may revoke in whole or in part the ruling should the network fail to fulfill its promise,” he said.
According to the commission, the broadcaster’s license was valid for six years and expired yesterday. To execute Article 123 of the Administrative Procedure Act, the commission will have to examine the network’s records of violations from today until June 10 next year and compare them with those recorded from June 11 last year to yesterday.
Statistics from the commission showed that the broadcaster’s three television channels, including FTV’s main terrestrial television channel, FTV News and Follow Me TV, had committed 67 violations as of Wednesday, with accumulated penalties topping NT$17.16 million (US$612,857). The network has 15 recorded violations between June 11 last year and yesterday. It was mostly fined for television series aired on FTV’s main channel that repeatedly violated the television rating system or other media regulations. The renewed license will allow the network to operate on its three channels for another six years.
NCC commissioners had deliberated over FTV’s license renewal application for three weeks before they reached a conclusion yesterday.
During the commission’s review, the network’s management team, including FTV general manager Chen Gang-sin (陳剛信), were asked to stand before the -commission and answer questions directly from the commissioners. Aside from reducing its violations, the broadcaster said it would start airing at least five weekly hours of programming for children and teenagers in October, adding that two-and-a-half hours will be dedicated to the broadcasts of children’s programming produced by the network itself.
As a majority of its violations were found in its television series, the network also promised it would amend its self-regulatory rules for the series based on the Regulations Governing the Classification of Television Programs (電視節目分級處理辦法).
The network added it will hold at least two training sessions per month for its employees within six months of receiving the new license and educate them on media regulations.
Particularly, producers and editors of television series must receive training on the nation’s television ratings system within three months after the renewed license is obtained.
The network also promised to stop broadcasting informercials on its main channel. Also, all programs involving consumer information will be produced in accordance with the Broadcasting and Television Act (廣播電視法) and health regulations.
Huang added the commissioners recognized the network’s efforts in providing high-definition television (HDTV) and digital television services as well as having a high percentage of self-produced programs.
“[The NCC] has taken into consideration both the good and bad before it reached its conclusion,” he said.
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