Television in Taiwan

Chinese language television
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Television channels in the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan.

Digital television

Digital television launched terrestrially throughout Taiwan on July 2, 2004. Currently, there are simulcasts of analogue and digital television. Taiwan plans to replace analogue broadcasting with a digital system by 2013.^[1] The Republic of China Cabinet approved a measure mandating that all new televisions are to be equipped with a digital television tuner from 2006. The rule will apply to TVs measuring between 21 and 29 inches in 2007, and to sets of all sizes in 2008, the Cabinet said in a statement. To assist lower-income families with the switch to digital television, the government plans to provide NT$300 million in aid to purchase converters or for the purchase of new digital televisions.^[2] In February 2009, the National Communications Commission proposed amendments to the Cable Television Act; they include mandating cable companies to provide free set-top boxes.^[1]

HDTV

High-definition television broadcast was introduced to Taiwanese audiences with the trial run of HiHD, provided by Public Television Service.^[3]

Cable television

Cable television is prevalent in Taiwan, as a result of cheap subscription rates (typically around NT$550, or USD$15 a month) and the paucity of free-to-air television, which comprises four channels. Programming is mostly in Mandarin and Taiwanese, with some English, Japanese and other foreign language channels. Miniseries, called Taiwanese drama, are popular. There is a dedicated station for Taiwan's Hakka minority as well as the arrival in 2005 of an aboriginal channel. Almost all programs are in the original language with traditional Chinese subtitles.

The Republic of China government is pushing for a switch to digital television services in the near future - this will be provided through a set-top box and will increase the number of available channels.

List of channels

Main article: List of Chinese language television channels

Free-to-air

In Taiwan, there are three now five nationwide free-to-air television networks, as follows:

Name	Free-to-air Channels	Owner	Launch Date
Taiwan Television (TTV) 台灣電視 (台視)	TTV Main Channel TTV Finance TTV Health	Taiwan Television Enterprise Ltd 臺灣電視事業股份有限公司 臺灣電視公司	10 October 1962 (Early television stations)
China Television (CTV) 中國電視 (中視)	CTV Main Channel CTV News Channel CTV MyLife	China Television Company Ltd 中國電視事業股份有限公司 中國電視公司	7 September 1968
Chinese Television System (CTS) 中華電視 (華視)	CTS Main Channel (main channel) CTS Education and Culture CTS Recreation	Taiwan Broadcasting System (TBS) 台灣公共廣播電視集團 中華電視公司	31 October 1971
Formosa Television (FTV) 民間全民電視／民視電視 (民視)	FTV General (main channel) FTV News Follow Me TV	Formosa Television Inc 民間全民電視股份有限公司 民視電視公司 民間全民電視公司	27 March 1997
Public Television Service (PTS) 公共電視 (公視)	PTS General (main channel) Dimo TV HiHD	Taiwan Broadcasting System (TBS) 台灣公共廣播電視集團 公共電視文化事業基金會 財團法人公共電視文化事業基金會	1 July 1997

Premium/subscription

• Era Television: Era News, Much TV, Azio TV
• Gala Television: GTV One, GTV Variety Show, GTV Drama, GTV Channel K
• Sanlih E-Television: SET International, SET Taiwan, SET News, SET Metro
• TVBS: TVBS Joy Channel, TVBS-NEWS, TVBS-Asia
• Chung T'ien Television (CTi): CTi Variety, CTi News, CTi Entertainment, CTi International
• Eastern Television (ETTV): ETTV Variety, ETTV News, EBC Financial News, ETTV Drama, ETTV Movie, ETTV Foreign Movie, ETTV Shopping, ETTV Yoyo, ETTV Asia, ETTV China, ETTV Global, ET Today
• Taiwan Broadcasting System
• MTV Mandarin
• Vila TV
• STAR TV: STAR Chinese Channel
• Videoland Television Network
• World On Demand

See also

• Media in Taiwan
• List of Taiwanese television series
• List of Taiwanese dramas

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Shan, Shelley (2009-02-11). "NCC resolves to promote transition to digital TV". Taipei Times. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/02/11/2003435796. Retrieved 2009-03-20. 
2. ^ "Cabinet launches move to digital TV". http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=36099. Retrieved 2007-11-30. 
3. ^ "Taiwan trials HiHD channel". Asia-Pacific Broadcasting. 2008-06-05. http://www.apb-news.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=213&Itemid=45. Retrieved 2008-06-10.